Mike,
talking about the earths magnetic field vs a simple bar magnet is like comparing a ballistic missile vs an arrow.
However; if you wish to perform some simple experiments, buy a rare earth magnet in the shape of a sphere.
There is a lot of data that has come out in the last few years regarding the field of magnetics. One of those things is confirmation of the existence of magnetic monopoles.
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2009-10/newly-dicovered-monopole-particles-flow-electric-currentsIn regards to the mentioned magnetic lines in the earth:
It's to be noted that the magnetic domains recorded in the Atlantic ridge cores did not align until they got below the curie point.
To add confusion to the problem it has also been discovered that the earth is constantly being bombarded via flux ropes from the sun.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/THEMISThere are some who are starting to believe part of the process that keeps the earths core hot, is the combining of monopoles into dipole domains, and that in fact, the flux ropes connecting the earth to the sun are the source of those monopoles.
Simply put, there is no comparison between the earth and a simple sphere magnet formed by normal means.
A neodymium magnet when formed in a sphere will align it's domains with the direction in which it was energized initially. It is simply a function of the magnetic domains.