I've never heard of cross-country skiing being called "hardcore" before. Maybe you are talking about ski-touring (going into mountainous terrian over high passes, etc) and not cross-country skiing (staying in the flatter areas at the bases of valleys, etc.)? A lot of people think that cross-country is only something that old people do, certainly not hardcore.

Regarding the cost, I think a lot more people should give cross-country skiing a go - the equipment is half the price of downhill stuff, and trail passes cost about 7 CHF per day or 70 CHF for a season. And it's a great way to get a n outdoor workout during the winter months.