Don't forget you can always jimmy-rig things. I recommend it for a while, I know I've spent tons of money on glassware simply because I didn't understand exactly how to use it properly. This would lead to it breaking, etc.
I have made 3-4 condensers just out of PVC pipe and random glass tubes I've acquired, and they've been pretty useful. I broke a distillation flask but I recycled some of it to make another distillation setup.

Really you've got to ask yourself what sort of things you are planning to do.
Generally distillation, reflux, and filtration are important. So I'd make sure you are able to do those. I really wish I had a better filtering system. Separatory funnels can be very useful also if you are going to be doing extractions or .. separations of liquids.

As for heating, I've only ever used the walmart type heating elements, using a water, oil, or sand bath for heating various flasks to various temperatures. Sometimes I'll heat the sand baths with a propane torch to get it hotter faster then my heating element can.

I've gotten a lot of my glassware for free, or from random sources. The 24/40 kit I got from some little store off of ebay.

The problem with that distillation kit is that it isn't adjustable, while a 24/40 set up of glassware is very nice!
For instance, you'd have to buy something for reflux if you got that distillation set up, and in the end it would probably end up costing you more.
If you get a 24/40 set up, not only do you get a still, but you get a reflux and a few other things depending on how you adjust your glassware.

The one organic chemistry kit I got from ebay was like $250.
Sometimes at the shroomery people will trade/sell glassware if you post enough to be able to view the market place.

The stuff I get for free is just by luck, a FOAF has it and doesn't want it, etc.

I would always recommend www.unitedglasstech.com.  Their glass is unreasonably strong.  I've dropped a few flasks only to have them bounce or roll. 

United glass is very reputable.  Their separator funnels are the best I have seen  If you have the money get one of their "organic lab" kits and use it as the start of your collection.

I agree. 

If you're going for used stuff, try to get it from liquidation auctions. You can get obscenely good deals because the sellers don't know what anything is worth, and they just want to cut losses. For example, I got a brand new pyrex 24/40 friedrichs condenser for $5 and a lightly used 22L three neck for $80.

United glass is great, although I believe that a fair amount of their stock is rebranded pyrex. My favorite company is certainly chemglass.

Holy fuck, what a deal.  You still got that 22L?

I could see UG doing that, however the stuff I have from them is actually thicker than many of the pyrex/kimex glass flasks I have seen/have.

A few other places claim this as well...

I doubt they'll resist to much to the law. I mean, that would only cause legal problems for them, and that is really all that is in it for them...

oh,, and that would leave them open to all sorts of litigation

Such claims are irrelevant - insofar as they are claiming that they will not comply with the law, any contract entered into in reliance thereon, is a nullity to the extent that such contract/agreement relies or purports to rely, upon said unlawfulness/illegal conduct. Courts will not enforce contracts for an illegal purpose/aim, nor will equity be a party to fraud. Clever fucking advertising, but the suggestion insofar as reliance upon such a claim/clause is DO NOT, it is not worth the paper/hyperspatial though it be, it ain't written on.

 yeah i reckon its suspect   i just havent seen that many (any) places selling some of the metals they have there..e.g. uranium ,sodium,potassium...hmmmmm?

'tis fuckin expensive though

think labx.com
much better than those snitches on ebay.