Okay, you're adding more bullets to the list than there should be:
Brand new 40GB HDD - This is as much a Linux cost as my entire machine is a Windows cost. Unless you were planning to use a live CD, where were you planning to install any OS?
98 ran on my 1.7GB HDD it was only because linux needed more space that i bought the HDD
Crashed and old HDD - Like others have said, Linux didn't cause this to happen. Unless you're somehow suggesting that the Linux install requires you to swap your drives in and out to the point of failure... The drive was either going to die soon anyway, or you mishandled it.
Granted it was old 
5 Days of my time, countless hours..., 30 minutes..., 5 days of seti... - Time cost. I'll give you this one, assuming you didn't learn something from it.
I learnt the ins and outs of Linux installation
Borrowed Redhat 8 off a friend - How is this even a cost? If it's lost time, then it doesn't get a new bullet.
Hey damnit postage costs money!!
Downloaded SuSE 9 via my dads broadband connection - Why? I thought you borrowed RH8 from a friend. In any case, it sure beats having to shell out $100+ for an OS at the store, doesn't it?
Yeah RH8 didnt work properly, the firewall freaked out and set itself permanantly on high blocking all net traffic bringing my network too its knees
XXmb file downloaded over 33.6k dial up - The 33.6 part is irrelevant. That's all you have, so it's not like Linux was the limiting factor. And are you suggesting you don't download anything for a Windows machine. I guess that's true, assuming you don't mind old drivers and unpatched security holes.
I gave up using microsoft update long ago so ok its irrelevant but its still 4 hours down the drain
Postal Costs of 7 cd's - What for? I thought you borrowed RH8 from a friend AND downloaded Suse 9. What CDs are these?
6 CDS of RH8 and a copy of SuSE 9 on DVD
The only valid "cost" here is time. I don't understand why people try to install a completely new OS and expect it not to cost them time. If you wanted something working out of the box, by all means, use Windows...or Mandrake Linux or a Knoppix Live CD. When I first installed RH6, it took me two weeks to get the network card working. In the mean time, I figured out how to configure networking, compile new source code and insert modules. Yeah, it costed me a lot of time, but I got a lot of experience out of it. I even bought a new machine just for it, but I don't consider that a "cost" because Linux didn't forced me to get a new machine...besides, I dual-booted. I then got a nice job in college because of my Linux experience that more than paid off my "wasted" high school student time.
And if you feel Linux has cost you so much, why do you insist that your machine run it? Just install Windows. Otherwise, you feel either Linux will provide you some useful service or you feel the experience you gain (good or bad) is worth the trouble.
So ok, i agree that my rant was somewhat stupid but i was p!ssed off. I expect it to cost me time its just when i have spent 5 days and learnt nothing, had i have resolved the problems it wouldnt bother me but the fact i havent really annoyed me!! What i now have learnt is that non of this was a cost, its will help in the future when i get linux running to learn about linux which was my main objective in the first place
On another subject if anyone things they may have an idea as to why this it isnt working i would be very greatful 
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