Will it pay for itself or make me any money, no of course not, but I didn't buy it for either of those.  I also didn't buy it to make my rig.  I had the printer a while ago, when I relocated my rig I decided to fool around and do something myself.  It's a very fun hobby and I get a lot of personal entertainment designing and making things myself.  I have made a lot of things (for friends and family as well) that are just plain neat LOL.  I have spent much much more on hobbies in the past, $1700 in the long run is an insignificant amount of money for my entertainment, so I have absolutely no delusions or beefs with paying what I paid.

Too much and nothing are subjective in this case, not fact.