Hey nsap, i live in Montpelier area and work in Essex. I priced some stainless square stock at capitol steel a year and a half or two years ago. I was looking at 1.5" instead of the 2" and remember it came to just shy of $400 for the 40' called for in the original brutus plans.
I dont know much about metal prices but do know we all need to make a living including the miners and the distribution chain that gets the metal all the way up here to Vermont. That said I haven't coughed up the dough for it cause i was strapped for time and wouldnrather brew than build if given the choice. I did find much cheaper prices at the local metals recycling outfit (like $100-150 for 2" diameter), however he rarely sees square stock only round pipe. The complex joinery required by the round pipe and the fact that i havent procured or learned welding yet has prvented me from going this route. I've got a 10 month old (and he is our fourth in 6 years) so I haven't really been able to find much more free time lately. I would also recommend watching craigslist for scrap or construction leftovers. But i think between a recycler and hawking CL you could find some thing. PM me if you want the recycler's contact info, and lt me know if you stumble into a larger quantity to buy. I could invest in the materials now, one day mybrood will be grown and i will build my own stand ;-)