I have to be 100% truthful right now.
I do Graphic Design & Web Design for a job, eventually my career. I did not pay for the Adobe CS3 Suite. Since I am not in College yet and not finished school I do not have the money yet. If it is not your profession then it is way to expensive for you to buy.
I will be buying a mac and the suite but only part of the loan I get for my schooling. That is the only way. Otherwise I would continue the way I do it now. Only when a program becomes something you can't live without (ie your job, or what not) is it worth the money.
You do know Photoshop alone is $1000 or so. I hate to sound like a pirate and all that, but if its a hobbie, its not worth the money.