My first handgun, which I bought about 1981, was a .41 mag. Even back then factory lead was about $20 a box IF I could find it.. At the time I could load it for about $3 a box. With my own cast bullets I'm loading for $7-$8 a box. I couldn't afford to shoot it if I didn't reload.
All my SD guns carry reloaded ammo, jacketed and cast. For one I don't have to worry about the cost of practicing and function tests with the same ammo I am going to use for SD, it's all the same. I guess I'd rather become profficient with a "good" bullet than adequate with a "perfect bullet"
If the availability and price of .22 ammo stays where it is at much longer I suspect we may see some of the .22 center fires make a comeback.