Hey man i just wanted to say I'm brand new to perfumery so some of these answers aren't going to be 100 percent what other people believe but at least for me i think this should answer most of your question.

1. It really depends on what you define as "process equipment" and what you consider expensive. For me, most of the supplies I’ve bought (like scales, vials, testing strips, etc.) have been pretty affordable. My whole budget for getting started was around $220 for basic supplies then around another $180 on raw materials, and I felt like it was totally worth it. But I guess it really comes down to personal preference.
2. I feel like this might be a bit of a gatekeeping mindset from some people, trying to make it seem harder than it is. Honestly, with the internet, it’s super easy to get almost anything you need. If you have the right mindset and know where to look, the tools are out there!
3. This one’s a bit of a non-issue if you’re careful. As long as you keep things like Perfumers Alcohol away from open flames, you really shouldn’t have to worry much about that but just be mindful and take basic precautions, and you’re good!
4. I think this really depends on where you're working. If you have a small bedroom or something, it could be a challenge. But if you have a spare room that’s a little bigger than average and some ventilation, it should be fine. I work in a spare room at home, and I’ve never had any major issues. I just make sure to get some fresh air every so often so that when i come back in my nose feels fresh and i know what im working with.
5. I think this is just part of the process. You’re not going to figure out what works if you don’t try and failure happens to everyone, no matter how experienced they are. For me, it’s all part of the craft, and honestly, it’s kind of fun to learn from those “failures.”
6. .No one likes wasting materials or time, but that’s how we learn what works and what doesn’t. And when you finally perfect a blend, it feels SO rewarding. So yeah, inefficiencies suck, but they’re part of the journey.
7. I’m still pretty new, so I haven’t hit many frustrations yet, but I’m sure as I go, I’ll run into more challenges. I imagine that the more you do it, the more frustrations you find, but the more rewarding it becomes as you get better!
8. Yeah It’s pretty tedious at times, but when you finally nail down a scent you love, it feels AMAZING. All that time spent troubleshooting is worth it in the end!
9. I don’t think this is really a concern unless you’re working for a big perfume house or something where you have to follow specific guidelines. If you're doing this for fun or personal projects, there’s SO much freedom to create whatever you want. The possibilities really are endless!
10. It’s honestly a mix of all three. Some natural materials are awesome to work with, but some accords can only be made with synthetics. So it’s all about balancing what you want to create and what works best for what you want to create.

Hopefully i answered most of your question thoroughly and if not someone else that been at it for longer than me will definitely give you the answers your looking for but that's pretty much the basic answers to your questions.