Here's a couple of quick thoughts, but my last point will hammer it all home (humorously tongue in cheek, but suspiciously kind of makes sense...)
After a couple of years, MMORPG subscriptions like WoW really add up, so $1000 is kind of breakeven for five years of play, and this game ought to last at LEAST that much. Secondly, you can say that it is an "investment" heh. For something like an Idris, once the game goes live, there may be others interested in getting their own on the grey market. Who's to say you can't flip it...? Heck you might even come out ahead.
Lastly, let's look at this in terms of utility... Going out to eat, a $10 meal lasts about 6 hours (until you have to eat again); that's a utility of $1.60 per hour. Going out to watch a new movie costs about $9.00 for an hour and a half of entertainment; that's a whopping $6.00 per hour of entertainment! (I *HATE* going out to the movies!!) So let's look at the price efficiency of your ship as it relates to going out to watch a movie every weekend or so: at $1000 would be about be about 166 movies to break even with our worst case. Every weekend? Two years. Will you play this game more than once a week for the next two years? What about the enjoyment you are bringing other players as crew?
Really, when you think about it, $1000 is your smart investment in the next two years for this virtual playground. OH! Playgrounds... let's say you get "your kids" a modest playground on amazon (ASIN B00ID8VU1Y) for $230. Of course they play the shit out of that playground over the next month or two (let's say an hour per weekend-day for two months), but after that? Maybe once or twice a month for half an hour... (Total 78 hours for 5 years) REALLY? Is that what you want to do with your money, Mom? You have a utility of $2.94 per hour. You would need to play around with your fellow TESTies every "week" for 2-4 hours for 2-3 years to break even with the utility of a children's playground, here--is that reasonable?
I think you done good, sir. You are an economical God, who knows a smart investment when he see it. Congrats, buddy :) now, you just need to set aside $20 - $50 per month until you pay yourself back. Oh, and no buying playgrounds or watching movies on the weekend; that moeny has already been spent ;)
So in summary:
$10.00 meal / 6 hours = $1.67 per hour in utility (lower $ per hour is better)
$9.00 movie / 1.5 hours = $6.00 per hour in utility (very expensive!)
$230 playground / 5 years = $46 per year / 12 months per year / 1 hour per month = $3.83 per hour in utility
$1000 / 52 weeks = $19.23 per week / 2 years = $9.61 per week per year over two years / 4 hours per week = $2.40 per hour in utility
HELL, people, I'm going for gold, here!
$1.50 beer / 30 minute drink = $3.00 per hour utility
IT IS MORE EFFICIENT to buy this internet SPACESHIP than it is to DRINK a $1.50 bottle of beer, let alone the $5+ imported stuff from the bar! *facepalm*
Disclaimer: I'm just an armchair economist, so feel free to call me an idiot for making this joke. ;) This is why economists don't get invited to parties. And don't get me started on min/maxing weighted averages in the Star Citizen XML data! Shopping for a refrigerator was a NIGHTMARE for my wife, but bliss to me. All the capacity, cubic inches, number of shelves, power requirements, number of LEDs, years in the warranty.... OMG I wish I could get paid to do this for a living *sigh*