You could always rate this hobby against some of the others.

What do you get out of building a monster truck for half a million dollar, and then driving over a row of dead trucks with it?

What do you get out of watching eight hours of sitcoms and game shows every day?

What do you (GACK!) get that could be called constructive out of watching twenty football games a week?

What do you get out of watching soap operas?

What do you get out of following the hollow lives of ditzy Hollywood people?

Survival is... well... kind of like real life, isn't it?

And, just think: you could be putting all that gear money in some casino's slot machines.

Sue