After reading the article and hearing everyone else responses I would like to change my vote. I do love self teaching, however one point made in the article said "Remember that you are representing a bagpiper community". With that in mind I think the only way is to do it properly.

It's not like playing guitar or whatever. If you are a self taught guitarist and you go out and play, other guitarist don't say "Oh look at him, he's doing horrible, he's giving guitarists a band name".

Should I go out and pick up a chanter, which I most likely will here soon, I will get an instructor. I have been convinced.