Dare I suggest that if you find 230 pounds sterling per hour "staggering" then paying for heli flying is not for you?
I can't see how an old ex-army turbine type is going to be truly cheaper than a piston-engined one that's currently in production. Apart from that, both have disadvantages. You have to be careful not to let the Scout's rpm go out of the governed range, or you might fall into a quarry as one did in the UK; and you have to have very snappy reactions if the R22's engine goes 'ahem', especially in the climb.