It's the unexpected costs that will get you.
e.g. If a mag drops out on a hired plane on power checks you taxy back, shut it down and report to the owner. If you own it you reach for the already depleted chequebook...
Having said that, with a busy life I find that owning makes me find time to fly - after all, it is costing me money to sit there. I'm not sure I'd still be flying if I had gone down the hire route.
For me it was purchase £12k but then around £50k shortly thereafter on refurbishing, unexpected engine rebuild, incompetent mechanic taking it apart and unable to put back together (I kid you not)