"Will buying a ML set me on an endless round of the "gotta have this"???"
Probably. It does to most people.
The reason there are special seasons, like archery & muzzleloading, is that it takes a little extra effort to participate,(although a little less every year it seems). The sport of muzzleloading is enjoyable and not all that hard, but, there are many things you'll find you need and learn along the way to make it that way. There are many people that will offer advise based on their experience, but it's up to you to figure what works best for you. If you don't want to learn and practice the disciplines of the sport (hobby?), don't participate in the season.
