I don't think renting planes is an issue (especially at airports with flight schools). Hourly rate for a powered plane is probably substantially higher than for a glider. If you want to make yourself feel better about saving money, look at helicopter rates and you realize that planes are almost free in comparison.
Renting isn't difficult but going anywhere in a rental can be problematic with a club. They expect a reasonable number of hours per days so you can't fly to Peterborough from Brampton, visit friends for a weekend and return without paying for a lot of down time.
If the weather in Peterborough changes to IFR and you can't fly back you're still on the hook. If the IFR continues long enough you may have to pay an IFR pilot to return the plane if it is IFR equipped. You take a bus home. It makes for an expensive weekend.
Renting from a private owner would be like renting someone's motorcycle. Too personal for me.
Sometimes people form an ownership group where 4-5 people share in the purchase and pay a cost per hour to run the operation. Most private pilot's fly less that 50 hours per year and take 40 years to time out an engine. Sometimes the group works and sometimes it doesn't.
A friend was in one and IIRC each of the six put up $20,000 to buy a plane. Someone blew the engine and some accepted it as a shared expense ($30,000) but others didn't. The guy flying it at the time walked away.
Having your own is the best but southern Ontario isn't that great for destinations. Where are you going to fly to other than another remote airport for lunch? Ground transportation from most rural airports isn't great.
I enjoyed having my Cherokee for the accomplishment but the motorcycle was more fun.
I've always wanted to try a glider but it's on the bucket list, near the bottom.