Observation from the sidelines ...
There is a lot of wisdom interspersed in this thread (all of VAF) and it may become a dangerous trend. Old guys (folks) who have accomplished the goal and now enjoy the fruits of their sacrifices and hard work throwing out 'free' advice to the new entrants to 'I want to fly, and think I can build an airplane, younger generation'.
*Yes, I soloed in '72, and quit because it was an opportunity cost. Get married, or learn to fly on a an Airman's wage, $144/month. Doubled to $288 by '73, plus another stripe on the sleeve." Oh, yes, still married to the same good woman after 51 years. Yes, 'opportunity costs' are a real thing, one can't be here and there at the same time, so to speak. We choose our battles when we can, and try to envision the path of our lives, seen from the other end of time.
I was blessed with a re-do 32 yrs later, finished my PPL, and then, and only then, realized that renting a spam-can Cherokee was NOT what flying was about. Decided to 'build my own airplane' ... how hard can THAT be? Only took another decade. 2nd-hand RV-6A 'Quick Build' orphan ... Fuselage, Wings, AND empennage, stored by the first owner for NINE yrs, after he built a rudder, a seat-back, and floor pans. THEN HE QUIT, it was TOO HARD?
By then it cost $4K 'premium' for a QB option on a Fuselage, and another $4K for a Wing kit, and there were no more QB empennage options. I paid $12K for all THREE kits, and broke every piggy bank in the house to do it. After all, how hard can it be to build an airplane? (Seller didn't stay informed on Vans price increases over the 9 yrs). He just wanted to 'recover his cost' (from 1997) that he spent on the kits.
Yes, it STILL took 10+ yrs to scratch together a used R22 J2A 0-360 with only 750 SMOH, for $7K, and 'life' still got in the way. (Two house remodels, one move.) ... no flying either. I was 'building my own airplane'. All the wiring was custom, for a Vertical Power Electronic CB, and eventually scratched together the early Dynon Classic 10" ... and piece by piece, an all-Dynon panel.
10 yrs of blood, sweat and tears. Opportunity costs ... gave up cars with warranties, did my own maintenance. Worked 80-90 hrs many weeks, for many months, and "ate what I brought, not what I bought" lunches. Opportunity costs must be paid.
Kits today that clecoe together in a few hrs or days? Wonderful advantage, perfectly matched pre-punched components that need only to be dimpled, or countersunk? Tinker Toys, and Lincoln Logs, (sorry ... toys of the 1950's), ... today's kits are MARVELS of technology and manufacturing. Wiring HARNESSES? What joys ... Santa Claus in every box!!
Marvels of the future, in our hands today? ADS-B, in-flight almost real-time Weather? AutoPilots that guide us through 100's of joyous flying hrs, and flight plans on cell phones and tablets?
I'm grateful, truly and deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this flying community. VAF and the shared wisdom and technological advances that are shared, enjoyed, sold and re-sold. Gifted and shared.
YES!! It's a Wonderful world, and I'm thrilled to be One Small Part of It (paraphrased from Statler Bros song). And, a salute to Jimmy Stewart and our favorite Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" ... It's a Wonderful 'airplane' Life. Thanks for the Memories, may your 'opportunity costs' be joyous and bright!