This is a key theme that comes up when people start to entertain the idea of a getting into Zs and buying a project. The 4-figure projects like this one are suited to those of us who live and breathe these cars, have the equipment, and know how to work on them, making it possible for a restoration to be managed economically. For someone coming in fresh with expectations of having someone else do the work, they will end up extremely expensive. Which makes it more sensible IMO for someone in that position to save the pennies up and buy a running, driving car in the high-teens to twenties that can be enjoyed and tweaked to taste on the go. It'll be cheaper in the long run.
So much this ^
Should have done exactly this myself.