I bought my stuff piece meal, mostly from northern brewer. Started about 18 months ago and other than a single case of coors (for company) and some heady topper, I haven't bought a commercial beer since. I'm doing purely extract brewing, and am 100% happy with the results.
I won't brew in a plastic bucket. I tried this years ago, and I'm convinced that micro scratches in the plastic harbor microbes that makes funky flavor. I brew primary in glass carboys, and transfer to glass carboys for secondary. A big heavy bottom stock pot, couple of glass carboys, cleaning brush, auto siphon, blow off tube, rubber stopper and air lock, capper, thermometer and a wort chiller is pretty much all you need. The wort chiller is the only way to go. Oh, and a bottling bucket and filler tube.
I use Star san and PBW (powdered brew wash). Scrounge a new 5 gallon plastic bucket, make you sani solution in it, and use it as a sani bucket. Everything gets soaked or rinsed.
I've picked up some other brew geek stuff like starter flasks, and vortex stir plate. Nice toys, fun to experiment with, but totally not necessary.
fro