Well, from my point of view it's a bit different. It stopped being a hobby and started to be my sole source of income. Just in the past year, I would have to estimate what i've spent to be somewhere in the $7000 range on 'modeling stuff'.
But a chunk of that is equipment that i'll only have to buy once, or i'll only have to buy once every year or two.
It's expensive, no doubt about it
but i love it.