Collecting a decent sized force for gaming is a horrendously expensive task, I agree. I gave up on the whole gaming thing years ago, though I've recently dug out some of my old unpainted models, to paint 'em for fun. I might get a tank or two - those were always my favourite - and do some more conversions. That was always my favourite bit - getting a kit, and chopping it up/ putting it together differently to see what I could come up with. I'll see if I can get some pics of the stuff I've got left...
But anyway, someone attend to the Hoover! It's too good a design to be left alone...