Phoenix Son,
Thats a shame, you don`t know what you are missing. How do manage to get a J/S ride these days? I can only assume that you are airline staff or atc etc...
Go have a trial lesson, you`ll love it!
If you do get hooked there are ways around the money thing. I think we all had that problem to start with (except military or the very rich). Many pilots spend years paying off training loans, but I think its worth it.