New player questions/concerns

[Niwashi]

It seems the base game is $20, and the expansion is $40, and the bundle is $60. Is there any reason I would want to buy the bundle over buying them separately, like an extra free month or something?

No, there's no real benefit to getting them together unless you want both now anyway. Since nearly all the expansion content is locked until you finish all of A Realm Reborn anyway, about the only reason for getting the expansion immediately is if you want to play as an Au Ra character. The extra race is the only expansion feature available to new players. If you don't plan to change to an Au Ra, then just get the base game for now and then you can buy the expansion later when you reach that part. (And who knows, maybe it will go on sale by then.)

Also, is it too late to use a recruitment code? Do you need my account information or anything, or would we just be helping each other out?

It's not too late. You can enter a recruitment code at the MogStation after buying/registering the game, but it has to be before adding additional subscription time (which typically comes 30 days later since purchase entitles you to the first 30 days of game time). You can uses mine if you want, it's M343G2BJ, or you can get one off the Official Recruit a Friend Code Thread. I believe in order to actually receive most of the bonus items, you have to not only use the Friend code, but then go on to purchase subscription time as well.