I have never understood why people seem to value their time into the equation of the cost of casting/reloading.
That's the whole idea of the thing - down time to relax and do something with added value, and to create something useful. Your time is what allows you to do these things.
I do not have TV. Haven't had it for 25+ years. THAT is what gives me time to devote to my hobby.
I treasure the time I CAN spend sorting and prepping brass, casting, sizing/lubing, reloading and shooting. I NEVER lack for anything to do in the man cave.
My SO calls it "man knitting". I understand what she means. But when many figure in the cost of the reloads, they say "...my time is worth $50 an hour" or something like that.
No....your time is what allows this to happen. If that's the case, sleeping 8 hours every night costs you $400.
For those that don't have time, MAKE the time. Murder your TV. You would be surprised at how much you can get done with an hour here and an hour there. The TV is a vast wasteland that creates vegetables out of us. I have not missed the TV one bit since my son and I machine gunned it at the range (yes I cleaned up the mess). It was a very liberating act.
Time? For instance, I sized, swaged , trimmed and chamfered/deburred (now ready to load) 500 223 military over a week or so amount of time....an hour here and an hour there.
I'll set up for casting and do a run of 1000+ bullets. Then size and lube them....all over weeks of time here and there.
The use of your spare time is what makes up your HOBBY.
Rant over.