The community is awesome, there are so many talented folks who help to make it the way it is. I never got into the design side myself...except for creating AI flight plans(from old pdf timetables), but PMDG, LEVELD767, ACTIVESKY, TDS/freeware developers...the list of dedicated "hobbyists" goes on and on.
I recently bought a VR set for use with MSFS...the immersion is fantastic, but after 30 minutes or so, nausea set in(bummer...but may give it another shot).
Not as "addicted" as I once was...but still enjoy 'simming.
There is a really great community willing to help other flight simulator enthusiasts. Typically, they are not as grumpy as those you meet in other types of forums. Almost all are way beyond my abilities and yet no one really cares.
Even when you own a budget airplane, flying is still pretty darned expensive. I have a homebuilt ultralight that sips just a little over a gallon an hour... so that is reasonably priced entertainment. The problem is that my life insurance doesn't cover me when I am flying it, and I would hate to leave my wife in a financial crisis.
Our Cherokee's Lycoming O-320 can be throttled down to 5 gallons an hour when properly leaned and still cruise along at about 100 mph which is very good for a general aviation airplane. But even that adds up pretty quickly. It wasn't too bad when I could buy unleaded Autogas for $1 a gallon. But my plane's STC requires that the autogas has no alcohol in it. I can still get it at a local Commercial Fueling Network station but it is much more expensive than other stations and Avgas is even more expensive.
And of course, that does not count oil, maintenance, parts, insurance and other related expenses.