This thread makes me feel better. I feel positively virtuous. It will also give me plenty of ammunition to use with the wife, if necessary, not that she begrudges me the cost. You will all think me a piker, but that's mostly because I've only had my Phantom for a week. So far in USD $505.85 for the Phantom, plus one set of prop guards and an extra battery, all from Amazon, and that includes tax and (free) shipping. Of course, I also had $56 of Amazon "Reward points" that applied to reduce the cost. However, I have just ordered a camera (SJ1000 instead of a GoPro) for another $79 or so and I'm scoping out video editing software, so I think I'm heading down the slippery slope. I'm a retiree, too, and as many have said, it gives me something to do besides sitting around the house. I hope to enjoy this forum, too, as I get more into it.