Settling on switches
So as we all know, the lab uses 4 x 3560's and the 3560's are a bit different than the 3550's. The 3560's support a variety of features that aren't on the 3550's including IPv6, different QoS mechanisms..etc. Looking at my budget, I could easily purchase 4 x 3550's for my lab, but 3560's... possibly 1 at most. I'm working out something with work to get 4x 3560's at my desk for labbing, but I'm not 100% sure how that will fly. and in it's also likely that if we need one on the fly, they'll have to take one of mine 
Anyway.. I'm still feeling like I'll be mostly ok if I purchase 4 x 3550's and use them, and just make up the other tasks on 3560's.. but I'd just like others thoughts on it.

Anyway.. I'm still feeling like I'll be mostly ok if I purchase 4 x 3550's and use them, and just make up the other tasks on 3560's.. but I'd just like others thoughts on it.
CCIE - COMPLETED!
Comments
The 3560s go for $550 and up. I will say the prices have gone down in the last year. When I was shopping last year for switches, the 3560s were $800 and up (brand new for the 8-port was $900).
I'm not sure how much rack rentals go for, but if you are able to cover 85 to 90 percent using the 3550s then the time and money to invest in the rack rental of a topology with 3560s shouldn't be too bad.
I'm sure the next hurdle we will deal with is the eventual IOS licensing and hardware that supports it.
You can get some only vouchers for playing with the other features that 3560 has.
My Network & Security Blog with a focus on Fortigate. New post on how to create a fortigate ssl vpn.
Im guessing you're trying to build 4 switches connected to your box Ubuntu (GNS3). Am I right? I did the same thing.
A few passed CCIE RS with this set-up. However, you need to be aware that it takes substantial amount of time (a time that we candidates dont have) to troubleshoot GNS3 and to make it work around any WB. In my experience, I spent so much time TSing the set up rather than learning from the WB that I just gave up. Not everything will be perfect.
Guys that dealt with this will tell you the same thing. Its the main reason why candidates go for rack rentals or the expensive route like I did, which was buy all the hardware.
3550 has ipv6.. it doesnt have QoS and PVLAN which are in the blueprint.
I'm building a lab slowly at work with some bits and pieces.. probably early next year I'll give the proposal to my boss and then he can approve it and hand it off to the inventory manager.
What is your opinion for using one 3745 with two
Thanks in advance