Steve,
-. -.-- ...-- .--. , yep, I certainly know about other hobby costs. That's one of the things that all hobbies have, namely, cost.
Cost is just a matter of degree one wants to expend on his hobby and everybody is different. What is expensive to one person is peanuts to another. The farmers barn is sided and roofed with Al but the house siding is in shambles. I know folks who spend more on an accurate gun / sniper rifle than some pay for a car. Heck, some youngsters spend more on one mag wheel for their junk car than the cost to convert to Mach4. The neighbor bought a $3k planer for his wood working hobby and the bird houses he makes are not exactly flying off the shelves in his shop. All depends on what one wants and once you decide you have to pay for it.
COST- if your going to convert to Mach4 one will need a license, most likely an external motion device and maybe a
breakout board .....so $500 to play in the new arena.
If one does not want to spend $500 then don't upgrade to Mach 4. Period!
Only the individual can rationalize it out.
I like to think of Mach4 similar to what an undertaker once told me ............... there is time and we are patient, but, sooner or later you all come to us, maybe not me, but the services will be needed!
So much for COST.
RICH