When you do a cost amortization of going Solar, you are looking at 10+ years before you break even. Of course, this assumes some very critical things.
For instance, will technology advance and your system will be woefully over-priced and inefficient; thus have to be replaced before you break even?
Will a hale/wind storm take out your investment? Will insurance replace it?
Will it truly work ‘as-advertized’?
Will the cost of electricty go up, to justify the cost of this addition?
Will you have a job in ‘x’ months, so you can keep your home, and realize a gain on your investment?
With the economy as it is, and solar energy efficiency and technology where it is - it’s nearly impossible to make a compelling reason to switch now.
Every concern you raised here is the reason why we decided not to use Solar for our home, and trust me, I’d love nothing more than to call up and tell my power company to go sexually interact with itself.
I wish hydroelectric were an option for our property, but we don’t have a strong source of natural running water. Of course, as soon as someone would do something like that, in addition to buying the equipment, there are probably hundreds of permits, and when you’re done, some jackboot from the EPA will probably shut you down and then some.