As a real cheap pilot
I thought I'd contribute ...
PFA types can be just as cheap ... in fact IMHO cheaper than most microlights if performance is taken into account. Like Gengis says, they both have similar costs but PFA types tend to be cheaper to buy as they are in less demand.
I've just formed a group (along with at least two other members of this forum) to operate a very pretty little Falconar (similar to a Jodel 120). We have initially started with a fairly high monthly sub which is intended to build a good engine and maintainance fund quickly, pay for insurance and hangarage and leave just fuel and oil to put in. We may reduce the monthly fee later, but as it is, it's still less than hiring a PA38 from the local club for one hour! So you could easily say that any flying after that first "expensive" hour each month, flying only costs around £20/hr + landing fee... not bad for an aeroplane that carries 2 full adults at 100 knots for 2 1/2 hours with light baggage! The money needed to own the share is simply an investment that probably will earn little interest but is hopefully safer than stocks and shares, so it's easy to just think of it as "money in the bank" and disregard it to a certain extent.
Still too expensive? well I also have an Evans VP2 which I operate from a farm strip on the farm I manage. It cost £2500 to buy, I don't insure it (but may decide to) and I do my own maint as and when needed ... a bit like you would with say an old motorbike. I reckon my hourly rate for the 40 hours mentioned is about £25 all in. She's not pretty, doesn't climb well and will only carry a pilot and child (or two very light adults) at 75mph. But! she's real fun and real cheap!
Still too expensive? Well I bought a very early flexwing microlight a couple of years ago for £650 ... flew it a few times and frightened myself ( I guess I should have had lessons
) so sold it for more than I payed ... I reckon my flying in it worked out at £25/hr profit ('
') ... but could have cost dear! (but I'll leave that to another thread!)
So flying can be cheap, be it in microlights or PFA permit a/c ... or even CofA for that matter.
As for finding ways to justify the money we spend on flying ... I reckon not smoking pays for my habit. If a packet of 20 costs £5? and 20 a day is a moderate habit then by not smoking I can spend about £150/mth and enjoy good health. Cheapness is all relative to what disposable income you have available anyway so who's to say flying actually is expensive.
Is this all flawed thinking? I don't think so, and if I one day discover it is ... well there are worse ways to blow your hard earned!
IM