I've been around the hobby actively since I was a teenager, since 1971
In regards to value and all that and we've talked about that a LOT here on FB, I don't fuss much over that anymore. I used to.
But I've learned if something makes you happy and you enjoy it, value and cost and all don't matter a whole lot anymore. Just do it. Time is running out on all of us. At 71, I look at myself in the fourth quarter in life. It's winding down I'll be gone one of these days heck almost half of my class mates and friends have already beat me there they are already in the grave. I had a near death experience 10 years ago now, and my attitude on a LOT of things took a big turn. It was a great learning experience. It made me open my eyes and quit worrying about so much stuff. All of a sudden you realize, who cares?
And there is no hobby I ever came across that didn't start to cost some heavy coin the more you got into it.....