I got me a chanter!

[Macman]

One specific question I have is on the less expensive practice pipes, like the ones you can get on eBay and Frugal Corner. Are they worth getting until I can save the money to get a good set?

I would save the money and wait until you can get a good set. You're going to be on the practice chanter exclusively for quite a while anyway (it was a year for me), so any money spent on "less expensive" pipes is money that could have gone to a good set.

Congratulations on getting the new PC, Nighthawk!