Hi Davo, yes I still use it regularly and think it was a bargain. It gets super hot and I usually have to dial it down from max. Great for burgers especially.
I'm not a fan of gas bottles, simply for convenience I much prefer NG. Plug and play for as long as you want, no having to worry about running out, swapping or storing bottles.
I really can't comment on cost though. My hot water is also gas as is my stove, so it's almost impossible for me to say how much the BBQ is part of the bill. I would expect it to cost less than bottled gas, but I can't confirm.