Eventually
you'll start finding that the chips you want to use are not available
in DIP form factor, thus necessitating
SMD prototyping boards
otherwise known as "SurfBoards" and available from
alltronics
and
DigiKey to name a few.
There's also
Bellin breakapart boards,
large PCBs with assorted adapters that you break off as
needed, at a very very good price. If you ever make PCB's you know
that adding a few sq. in. to the design costs almost nothing. Tack
some of these onto your next PCB run if you anticipate working with
certain SMD sizes.