I can attest to the major costs involved and mine was just a straight power-train rebuild.
It shocked me how quickly the expenses accelerated, but, again, I refused to do anything half-way because I'm planning on keeping this rig for the duration.
The point about being able to buy vehicles at choice prices at the present time is dead on, and I see it at Saturday car shows on a regular basis. Folks are hurting and the lined-through prices on 'for sale' signs is evidence of that.