Blazer1, when's the last time you crashed a Xbox 360 or a PS3? or a paintball gun for that matter? And I have more than once rolled my ATVs without any damage. All those thing can usually be sold for a good percentage of what you paid. Not picking on you, just seems like an apples to kiwi fruit comparison to me
This hobby takes disposable income. And I MEAN disposable. With most of the other hobbies mentioned here you can get back a significant amount of what you spent. With planes, you may lose every cent you put in the air. Yes, you could wreck your fullscale car, but insurance covers that. At least somewhat. No such luck when I had two $1000+ dollar planes go in in the same year. It's the risk we take.
Now, as for how expensive it gets, that is entirely up to each individual. I have known some who never went past that first or second plane. Not a lack of ability, they were just happy with what they had. Then there are nuts like me who only want one more aircraft than they currently have. Regardless of what that number becomes. Is it getting bad when you consider buying a second shed for the storage of plane and gear?[X(]