Considering the price of both in the supermarket, at least in my area, I would say you are way ahead of the game!!!!
As to the cloning, it never even crossed my mind. I have an absolute black thumb when it comes to plants indoors. I'm OK with starting seedlings, but then they must go out in the garden, or they die on me.
Other than those peppers, I hardly ever buy plants anymore because of the numbers I grow. Talk about cost prohibitive! I have to do seeds.
I think you have written that you do a market garden, so it is understandable. I only do about 20+ tomato plants and maybe 6 peppers, plus 6 short rows of sweet corn.
I had a black thumb with sweet corn last year. I have to make sure we burn off the garden before planting this year. I had smut, due to a very wet year. The same weather blighted all my beefsteak tomatoes for the second year in a row, so I am not planting those this year.
Actually, I am not sure I believe in green or black thumbs. It is about taking pains and being very observant. That said, my work is intermittent due to economy and when I have orders, I tend to ignore my plants, indoors and out. Sometimes, that is ok, in a good year. In bad weather or indoors when it so cold and dry, it can be death for the plants.
I just keep repeating that it is a learning experience. Now I am reading about increased lettuce prices, so I am hoping my lessons have taken and I can keep it growing all year. Not easy in summer, when it can get to 90 degrees, but last summer, I kept it on a 3-season porch and made sure to put the ceiling fan in the hottest part of the day. We have overhanging eaves on that room, so there is light, but little direct sun, so it worked.
At least my failures don’t really effect our income. But I do hope to reduce our outlay.