so how much did you pay for your;
AFF
A License
B Licence
gear rental
and first 200 jumps?
How long did it take you and were you employable shortly afterwards as a commercial skydiver at a DZ where you could progress on to make a good living?
expensive is in the eye of the beholder.
If you are a half empty type with no desire to excell, then yes it will be an expensive experience, but if you have desire, aptitude, common sense and a hint of professionalism, it is expensive not to, as a skydiver.
You sound like you work for steve and Kirsty constantly following and replying to anyone who dares question their school and i know for fact they get people to do that to counter any critisism that ex students have of the course and there are plenty!
Anyway, if your not from NZ or Australia it will cost you about 40,000USD all in. So in the opinion of an ex international student and NOT an obvious paid up member of NZSS it IS expensive. In fact to even question the expense to an international student is quite frankly ludicrous as you have no idea of the total cost.