In the piston game, you need to be able to bankroll "suprises" of say 20k-30k.
This is very true. The amount will vary by aircraft and engine type, but I certinly go along with 5k being a minimum for suprises, with 10K not too far behind for something really bad.
Aviation can be done econmoically if you work at it, and keep up with the maintenance. Letting things go, will cost you more later (and could be unsafe in the mean time). Maintaining airplanes themselves does not cost money, it's paying the people who maintain the plane, and build the parts and materials you need. Like any of us, the people employed to keep planes flying would like to make a fair wage - would anyone deny them that?
I people would stop suing each other when planes had problems, or crashed, we'd be paying for a lot less product liabiltiy insurance, and fewer lawyers - then costs would come down!