yes, it is the 18-55mm lens. It is coming from a college A/V classroom and there are several, compared to just the one pictures were taken of. There are at least 3 different bags it could come with, for example. The one pictured does not look like the IS ones in your link though. I am sure I will end up getting different lenses, as I learn more. A big part of my decision to go the DSLR route instead of point and shoot is the expandability, as opposed to complete replacement. That theory has served me well in my audio recording and let me develop a high end rig from very humble beginnings.
I here you and it makes some sense....but
Canon DSLR lens are expensive...all of them...expensive as compared to your original investment. You might not believe me now, but (and I think it was stated earlier) the lens' are the real investment at "our" level.
Say you get the XTi with a bag and the 18-55. You use it, learn about it, like it, take a couple thousand pictures and then decide that you need a macro lens for close up work and zoom or telephoto lens for concerts and the like. Now you have ~ $500 or more in lenses...and you are still using the 10MP camera. So, you start thinking...hmmm a 24MP canon with a *much* better view screen (touch), movie capability... the Canon interface that you already know.... and a *ton* of other features, is less than your lenses....and on and on
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I'm for your decision because you are putting a foot in the shallow end first and I know, from having one, that the XTi is a good camera.
If you only needed a camera for this one documentation project, IMO, a used Powershot P&S is definitely the cheaper and easier way to go - again from experience. The A640, which I have, and posted a couple of pics from earlier, has excellent macro capabilities and it's 10MP. A few bucks for a copy stand and some lights and you can go to town.
Even if you were to change your mind and get one, I bet you will soon start lusting after a DSLR after a while.
Finally, be a little concerned about getting one from the AV lab as I would expect students to have beaten them pretty bad. I personally have not had any problems with all three Canons that I have had and that is over many years of use (for the first two).
The XTi did get a speck of dust in the viewfinder (not on the mirror) but after looking into what it takes to remove that, I decided living with it is the way to go. Sometimes I have to clean the contacts on the macro lens. That's it..that's the only issues I have had. I take a lot of nature shots and indoor close-ups and I do religiously take care with their use.