What is the cost birth to abortion to do this, buying a rig, training and tows soup to nuts?
Thats a, umm... slightly oddly worded question.

The cost to get into it will vary greatly on who you are and who you know. I got really lucky, traded for my training, and got lucky again and found good used equipment for cheap. I'm completely into the sport for $1000, probably gona drop another $500 this year on a radio and o2 setup. $2000-3000 is more realistic starting from scratch and finding good used equipment. Of course like anything you can go wild, buying all brand new top of the line gear you could easily spend 10 grand.