I am looking to purchase a P1S and was looking into buying alternative (and thus cheaper) filaments in Melbourne. However, I found out that Bambu Labs have RFID in their filaments which make it easier to load and print on Bambu Labs printers. So, it seems like I may need to spend a little bit more on the Bambu Labs filaments just to get started. It would be easier to print on the P1S with Bambu Labs filaments.
And after that, there is the PLA vs PETG debate and which one is better. After scouring through some Reddits and forums, it seems PLA wins as it is sturdier and storing it is easier as PETG needs to be kept dry as it absorbs moisture rather easily. PLA is great for indoor prints (prints that get exposed to the sun tend to fade easily) while PETG would be great for outdoor prints as they have a better chance against the sun.