I've played a set before, kitchen pipes are OK, particularly if you live in a dorm or something. They're the quietest of smallpipes. If I was going to get a set, I'd get this one, with a Dunbar PC. While I like smallpipes, and do quite a bit of my practice on them (never could get the hang of circular breathing with a PC), they aren't necessary as any sort of intermediate or transitional step from a PC to the great pipes; a good PC on it's own will be fine. Personally I think you'd probably be better served by sticking with a PC and saving your pennies against the day when you "move up" not to a set of kitchen pipes, but to a good used set of GHB's.

As for saving money, I saw a long Naill PC on Bob Dunsire's Forum for $80.00 second hand.