The PL-L800, if in good working condition, is a nice table with good performance. It can certainly be more than just a "placeholder".
I quickly scanned the DFW CL...there is a set of Boston HD9 speakers for $125. If you could get them for less than $100, they would be a good deal. Of course, speakers are very subjective, but I find the Boston A, HD and CR8/9 speakers to offer good value and an appealing sound. Add a subwoofer later and you might find that you don't need to go any further. Note that you may need to replace foam surrounds on the speakers if they've not been done before. Pretty easy to do, and inexpensive...and something an audio enthusiast on a budget should learn to do anyway!
If you need a means to power them, consider an integrated amp...they are often less than receivers, and unless you listen to FM will do everything you need. There is an Onkyo 8190 on CL, but at $195 it is significantly overpriced. Too bad, because these are pretty good amps. It is a new listing....keep an eye on it. Perhaps if it doesn't sell in a week or two, the seller will take a more reasonable price for it.