Backpacker, I think you may be being a bit pessimistic in your assessment mate. I did my PPL on Beagle Pup, then transitioned straight onto the Pitts S2A. It was a pretty steep learning curve but I had good instructors. I then started competing at standard with less than 100 hrs in my logbook.
I reckoned at that time on doing about 20 to 30 hours per year because it was all I could afford it was however nearly all aerobatics and I was quite young so picked things up a lot quicker than I do now !
if the OP is committed first step is to find a good aero instructor even to help whilst doing the PPL. Hopefully spending capacity will improve over time……but warning aeros becomes seriously addictive !!