cost complaints are usual among people who upgrade often, which is not the case for me.
one way i like to calculate the cost of things i buy is a simple formula;
if i buy something that costs $1000 and "upgrade" after a year, then it has cost me $1000/year.
if i upgrade after 10 years, then the yearly cost goes down to $100/year.
a BIG difference; and it's much less budget stretching and, at the same time, a much lower personal physical/mental stress.

See: http://www.blu-ray.com/community/gallery.php?member=Gelli
or: Axiom Gallery