Dabbled in gunpla for a while, got the RG kits. Ung downside sa gunpla is that if it breaks, you're screwed. So moved to the easier and I guess sturdier SD kits (yung chibi version). However medyo limited ung models sa SD so I had to move on from gunpla and went the lego technic route.
If you're serious about it though - there are a lot of things you can do even for the cheaper kits, may nag momod, diorama, and paint - anime, battle worn etc. It's rewarding but it needs a lot of time and experience.