I commute in a veritable jam of windcheetahs. They're all over Bristol.

I very much like Windcheetahs. Spent some time poling about Norfolk lanes on one a couple of years ago, back when Bikefix were still doing test weekends. With that lowslung seat and the joystick you can do all the fanboy 'road missile incoming!' bit.
Not sure I'd want to ride one in town though ... a bit too low. And, as you say, £3k, though less expensive recumbent trikes do exist.

Recumbent trikes are all a bit pricy. But if you just want the low wind resistance of a recumbent, look at the two wheelers - most of those are a lot cheaper. They're eaasier to fit through gates, stiles and cycle path chicanes too. Not quite as low and fast as a trike, but still better than an upright.

Unless you climb hills. I've still not ridden a recumbent you could climb on.

The Stein Road Shark, for example; about £1400 though ISTR it used to be a lot less than that. Or the ICE-Q (yes, there is also one amusingly (?) called the ICE-T). I didn't say they were cheap, just less money than the Windcheetah, and as Quercus says, some two-wheelers cost less still. Unfortunately the exemplary BikeE - a recumbent for £500 upwards - is no longer in production.

If only I had £3K + VAT to spare...

Oh yes. I could exercise in the fresh air without falling off a bike (MonSter). I miss cycling...

A friend of mine is very into recumbents - builds em, travels everywhere on em, goes shopping with them, moves house with them (this apparently requires a fairly sizable bike trailer and some good gearing ratios)

He also takes a lot of photos of them, which can be seen here:

http://www.mozbike.com/

The Bat-Cycle!

:¬)

But see my comment to bloodnok here.