True, there are some major restrictions to a sport pilot license, but it is about half the cost and half the hours. And your hours flying as a sport pilot count towards your private pilot license. ... oh, and besides plane and instructor time, there are headsets and radios and all kinds of cool (and expensive) gear to buy. Keep in touch with the airplane side of yourself. Take an intro ride – they are usually fairly inexpensive – and yes, you will have to listen to their sales pitch, but you could take intro rides with many different instructors with the idea that you are evaluating for when the time comes to plunk down serious cash.

Good luck!