Making is soooo much better than buying. (And cheaper too. And funnier.)
And to give an idea, I have just finished my first build, got over a hundred posts, been there for roughly two-three months, and I still don't have the Infrantryman status (and thus cannot have access to the classifieds). And you know what? I don't care! Making my armor was one of the best hobbies I've ever had. So forget the wallet and start building YOUR very own suit!
(On a side note, if we had to make armor for everyone who came in here asking to buy some, we'd never get anything done. Takes a LOT of time to produce a decent piece, let alone a whole suit!)