I must be missing this over priced equipment out there. I just looked quickly at Amazon, my favorite place to buy everything. Looking at it as if I had nothing right now. I see some press's and press kits out of stock but see several for sale with Prime. So this is the over priced stuff now? News to me <shrug>
If someone has not rolled at all and has nothing they "can" set up to do so only spending around $100 and get everything they need equipment wise. This is over priced?
I have long toyed with going Hornandy with their Lock N Load. See them for sale Prime as of now. Again Prime. So if someone wants to start from scratch they could do pretty well with say a $500 budget for equipment. Now to me? If I want something that cost $500 it's nothing to me, I can just buy it. Many seem to be a little out of touch with the rest of the world. A LOT of people would have to really be careful if they want to drop $500 on something "non essential" right now. Could blow one hell of a hole is many budgets. A LOT, and I do mean a LOT of people have just recently bought their first gun. Many of them never shot as a sport. So assuming they now have a gun, telling them not to bother to start to set up to roll their own because there is only "frustration of acquiring overpriced equipment and supplies" sounds more like someone who has lived through multiple "panic shortages" and did what many do. Ignore them until they get caught by yet another and lash out in anger that its everyone else's fault they still learned nothing. <shrug>
So for those who are new to this, want to learn to roll, I say jump in. If they do not have $500 to spend in one buy then by all means buy what they can afford now. Press, dies, ect. Can even start with "kits". I leaned on a Lee Kit, still use a lot of Lee stuff even after decades of loading. So lay in the stuff that is still normal price, it is there to buy today at the same price it was before this latest panic. Powder, primers, and bullets will have to wait and watch for. Most important thing for newbies, do not do as so many old hands do. Wait till this panic shortage is over, ignore the stuff when shelves are full, then get over the top angry and blame everyone else next panic shortage when you have nothing.