Aviation has ALWAYS been a wealthy man's endeavor. In the 1950's a new
Cessna cost about what a small house cost. Same today.

As for ATC, I'd hate to see user services like landing fees, but
frankly, if I stay VFR, and out of D, C, or B airspace, I can fly all
over the country and never even use ATC services. If they truly are so
costly (and I don't think they really are, if you look at it as adding
on the GA use to the airline NEED), I can do without them.

I just flew Colorado to Mississippi and flew with another airplane that
filed IFR and all the ATC stuff. I didn't file a flight plan or talk to
ATC the whole way (I DO listen). When the ceilings looked a little low
I just tuned in ASOS's from airports in front of me, and upon hearing
they were 5000 AGL was encouraged that I could proceed safely.
Meanwhile my buddy is getting vectored up into the clouds and around
all the MOA's (I just fly throught them, never even SEEN a plane in
one, it's near airports where you see planes). We both got there
safely. Neither of us is right or wrong, just different ways of doing
things. .....

But, yeah, aviation is an expensive endeavor. Somewhere around $100 per
hour to fly the average small GA aircraft. And that is expensive fun,
no matter what you compare it to, though we don't like to admit
it.......