I think what's nice is that flight simming CAN BE inexpensive if you wish. When I using FS2004 about 99% of all my addons were freeware. Things I could not find, I just designed myself. There was (and still is), just a whole warehouse full of amazing, free addons for the taking that can last a simmer a lifetime of enjoyment. Getting into FSX a few years back changed that. There apears to be a lot more payware and a lot less freeware for FSX these days. Plus if you want the higher resolution, higher detail, more intrigate systems you usually need to go payware (there are definately exceptions), as most don't have the months/years to work on something and then give it away. Something like Plan-G, or Airport Design Editor is a perfect example of an exception, but I think you get my drift.I definately seem to buy more these days than ever before. I'm sure my budget (or lack there of) is in the $100's per month, but this is really my main hobby other than messing with my littl' ragtop Mustang or my photography (which is still flightsim related).Clutch

If I stopped to think about how much I have spent on flight simming, it would probably scare me, however, it is something I am hugely interested in, and so I am willing to pay for the enjoyment I gain from it.But that does not mean it has to be an expensive interest, if you buy something like the PMDG 737 NG and a couple of decent payware airports to fly to and from, then you are talking about maybe 100 dollars or so, and you can get literally years of enjoyment out of that, which actually works out as a fairly negligible expense when viewed in that context.Get into making your own stuff for it, and then it becomes effectively free.Al

If I stopped to think about how much I have spent on flight simming, it would probably scare me, however, it is something I am hugely interested in, and so I am willing to pay for the enjoyment I gain from it.But that does not mean it has to be an expensive interest, if you buy something like the PMDG 737 NG and a couple of decent payware airports to fly to and from, then you are talking about maybe 100 dollars or so, and you can get literally years of enjoyment out of that, which actually works out as a fairly negligible expense when viewed in that context.Get into making your own stuff for it, and then it becomes effectively free.Al

Very true.Which reminds me: what is the deal with the airport scenery? I checked the pricing on Orbx and a whole area, like Pacific NW cost $40, including a number of airport upgrades. Then how can a single airport from Orbx cost the same?

Which reminds me: what is the deal with the airport scenery? I checked the pricing on Orbx and a whole area, like Pacific NW cost $40, including a number of airport upgrades. Then how can a single airport from Orbx cost the same?

I guess they cost that much because less people are going to buy a single airport than a scenery that covers a wide area.

I guess they cost that much because less people are going to buy a single airport than a scenery that covers a wide area.

Also payware single airports would undoubtedly include a lot more detail than mere upgrades of sim-installed ones. This will involve custom modelling and texturing, which can be very time-consuming.

Also payware single airports would undoubtedly include a lot more detail than mere upgrades of sim-installed ones. This will involve custom modelling and texturing, which can be very time-consuming.

True. The level of detail and the amount of work invested per square mile of scenery is certainly higher for an airport than for a wide area scenery.

I'm assuming that the varied cost is largely because of the varying amount of work put into different things, and not necessarily the size. For example, you could model London's Heathrow Airport as it is today and it would be a huge modeleing task, however, reference material would be largely available for it. Whereas if you chose to model Heathrow when it first opened as Great West Aerodrome in 1929, you would be making the same airport, but on a much smaller scale, and although that might initially look like less work since there would undoubtedly be less modeling involved, there would probably vast amounts of time spent on the research necessary to ensure its accuracy, but far less material of that nature easily available. So it would involve some detective work to complete the task, not least because any images of it back then would not be in colour, which would be just one of the difficulties, adding up to a lot of time spent on the task.Al

I've certainly spent more money in bars and restaurants on a single evening than on the average FSX addon.

Well if you don't, you're either an utter cheapskate or you're not doing it right... :(

Well if you don't, you're either an utter cheapskate or you're not doing it right... :(

LOL. God bless saturday night... :(

" I'm a member of the Ramit Sethi school of personal finance, I spend extravegantly on the things I love, and I'm mercilously frugal about the things I don't. "Ebanezer loved warmth but sat covered with blankets in front of an empty fireplace in one of Dickens tales, until one night friend Jacob rattled a chain at his foolishness, he he.

" I'm a member of the Ramit Sethi school of personal finance, I spend extravegantly on the things I love, and I'm mercilously frugal about the things I don't. "Ebanezer loved warmth but sat covered with blankets in front of an empty fireplace in one of Dickens tales, until one night friend Jacob rattled a chain at his foolishness, he he.

I believe Scrooge neither spent extravegantly on, or loved, anything. I suppose the phrase 'mercilously frugal' does give that impression though. But the point is, yes, flight simming costs quite a bit, but to some people the expense is totally worth it.

With Flight charging for their own branded addons, like Train Simulator 2012 does, and ROF does, the future for simulations looks bright, especially for the publishers.

I have squandered much time, treasure and talent in this endeavour, and am a better man because of it.Kind regards,

am a better man because of it

Wow, beautifully said, Stephen! Thank you.I need to reconsider my personality from this perspective.

If I had to guess I'd say including hardware (Alienware, Controls, Bose Companion 5 Speakers) and software almost 9 or 10 thousand dollars. It's easy, as the OP stated, to get carried away and start buying scenery, sound sets, etc. So yes, it CAN be an expensive hobby for some people, but it is what you make of it. I'm sure there are folks out there that are quite proficient with a basic set up, low graphic settings, and freeware add-ons. The only problem I have now days is PMDG-itis. The inability to find satisfaction in add-ons below the detail of PMDG's standards :(