Nothing and I mean NOTHING is inexpensive in the airplane industry. Av-Gas at my airport is $5.79 a gallon.
What, a hand held aircraft radio is so overly expensive? If you can afford the AVGAS, not to mention aircraft insurance, why not a radio (legal requirements aside) for around those busy airspaces.
Not an aviator, but seems like a no brainer to me.
Sorry, not buying it. We don’t live in the barnstorming era anymore. Haven’t for some time now.