Hops really want to climb, and if given the opportunity, they will generally thrive.
I planted some rhizomes 3 years back, and at this point I have to cut them back.
The arbor/arch that I put up over the stairs to the deck is 20' tall, and completely covered.
I have been known to occasionally make a black and tan with storebought, but usually for the opposite reason... to make the home brew last longer.
I have a great supply store near me, run by an old grumpy codger who has 2 of everything in the back covered in dust.... Great guy - once he gets top know you. He made a trip a year or so back out to Colorado to visit breweries, and I was able to hook him up with the owners of a few breweries that know from my time out there in the brewing business. Been pretty good friends ever since
For ingredients, I generally use Austin or Northern brewer. In fact, the lemongrass ginger is a recipe that I pirated directly from Austin homebrew.
It is definitely cheaper for me to buy bulk grains from them than it is to buy local. Sometimes, they are actually cheaper for ingredient kits (all the malts, hops and yeast) than if you bought the components separately. I often buy kits that are on sale and just use the ingredients in my own recipes. It's an interesting way to try different hops or yeast or malts.