Time farming (including badges) is not nearly the same as money spent.  The thing is, while farming those badges (and mats) you invariably make money.  So, instead of spending all your gold (like I did) to get this made, you spend time farming, then have the belt and MORE money than when you started.  I'm just impatient, and Vortexes are only 200g on my server so I bought all the mats.