I do not see any difficulty in setting up a wallet on an airgapped device, it was simple for me to do. Another thing is that if you are also not updated with exploit updates and knowing how to avoid hackers, hardware wallet can not save your coins from the hackers. Hackers also target hardware wallet users specifically.
Setting it up, installing OS etc is easy, the hard part is exactly what you mentioned, keeping up with the exploit updates and verify that you got the right files.
You need to verify authenticity with checksums for all the software you're going to install and search for latest exploit to make sure you're not installing vulnerable version.
If you want to be able to spend from the wallet inside airgapped computer, you also need to set up watch only wallet to create unsigned tx, sign it on your airgapped computer, then send it back again. If you've got time to do that, it is doable but honestly you almost certainly will crave for a simpler method but also secure which is hardware wallet.
Setting up a wallet in an airgapped device is not so newbie-friendly, that's why the community recommends hardware wallets to newbies, as it is easier for them to use safely. An airgapped wallet has to be set up in a safe environment and you ought to know what you are doing, so you don't lock yourself out of your funds.
However, if you are using a recommended wallet software, you do not need to constantly verify anything. E.G., if you set up Electrum in an airgapped device, which is a well-reviewed wallet, then you're good if you do everything correctly locally.
Exactly and the price if compared to buying a brand new hardware wallet, almost roughly the same if you don't have old laptops lying around, even then old laptop might have security flaw on its old hardware.