I was taking lessons for my ppl, and the deciding factor that caused me to stop was not only the money, but time. Job travel prevented me from having a consistent training schedule , and when I was available usually the weather was not cooperating. It would sometimes be 3 to 4 weeks between lessons so was always having spend time getting my muscle memory back. Put training on hiatus to wait till I could dedicate the time, money wasn’t really a problem, but as you described started looking at the need to remain current, and more importantly safe, decided that simulation was a much more cost effective option. Even considering the cost of VR, top end GPU’s and CPUs. If my wife e er complaints about what I am spending on my simulation habit, I just point out I am really saving money over actually flying.
Not sure if she buys that argument but if she doesn’t it, I can always point to her 6 horses with confidence that she will leave me alone over budget concerns. 