Most importantly, are you seeing a return on investment for time and ultimate outcome?

No one can judge the enjoyment, learning, and hobby aspects. Just wondering if there is an end goal for that much overall expenditure (time, money, energy, etc.)

I absolutely see a return. I do not pay for this (we have a corporate gateway), for the price of a junior developer I can get 3-4-5 senior developer's work done. it's insane value.