You know; you people of the "This is an expensive hobby" crowd chase more potential fliers away with that hype.

Ive been reading this thread for a while now, and the general theme has gone from one asking how to better get help to everyone warning about how expensive it is.

FACT: You can get into this hobby flight ready for as little as $350
FACT: with patience, common sense and a little luck to go with preparedness you can STAY in this hobby for little more than the cost of fuel. Yes there will be the occasional minor bruise, but it doesnt have to mean a lot of money spent! I crashed my Arrow being stupid (Not solo'ed and tried to fly) I fixed it for about $10 in supplies and a bruised ego because I had to admit to my then instructor what Id done..
My first teacher always told me if I listened to him he would teach me how NOT to crash my plane, he's been in the hobby decades and can count the number of wrecks on one hand.

STOP insisting this is an expensive hobby, it doesnt have to be! Instead, start helping the less financially enabled find ways to minimize the expense so that we too can enjoy the hobby already. Or is your belief that this is just another little rich kids club?!