Absolutely. Just the GST payable on a new or near new Bonanza would come close to what I have spent over the last 3 years.
Its not cheaper than buying another Bonanza of similar vintage and just hoping its not suffering similar corrosion issues - but that would be just stupid. Maybe if I was facing the same decision today as I was 3 years ago, and with the hindsight of the GFC, I might decide differently but that is not the way life works.
And this is more fun.
Some examples of mates aeroplanes that have had restorations EVERY BIT as extensive as EZU is getting.
ALL could have gone out and bought the same type of aeroplane for less money than they spent restoring their aircraft - but they would not have ended up with better examples of said aircraft.