That sounds a lot more plausible having taken everything into account. Having worked in IT I know what you mean about overpriced consumables for 'unique' printers etc. £50 is NOT expensive comapred to some! Still, I'd be wary about anything I'm told by trainers. Most these days seem to have just read the course themselves for the first time the night before (apologies to the few professionals still out there).
I've always wondered why some rail companies are now printing tickets on similar stock when the guard, sorry 'Train Manager' still has one of the old 'hole punch-style' machines for marking tickets. Hmmm... E-tickets for trains. Now that WOULD be chaos!