Spark plugs

Is it just me or does it seem a little ridiculous to have to remove the upper half of the intake manifold to do a change of the plugs?

My plugs are wires and etc is getting a little nuts, especially after price shopping:

Plugs: (bosch Platinums) $1.99 ea=$11.94
Wires: (Bosch)= $40.00
Cap: (Wells)=$41.00
Rotor: (wells)=$9.00
Manifold Gasket: (Felpro)=$12.00

Over $110 to do plugs!!! I am also doing a PCV and the belts, but this car has 140K and it needs a little TLC.

I'm going through the same thing right now. Were the origional plugs NGK? Cause the part number under (MY) hood specs a NGK plug that runs about 12 bucks each. EAK! I can see WHY they put good plugs in. Cause they're a pain in the arse to replace. I'm gonna try and put in the best plug I can afford so I don't have to do this again! I'm probably gonna use the NGK G-Power Platinum... If I'm feeling REALLY REALLY saucy, then I'll use the NGK Laser Platinum. Those are the 12 buck ones....