I think it would be nice to have a radio but it just seems like too much effort for too little reward.
There are exams, sure. But the entry level one(s) are typically not that bad. Something a high-school grad could do in an afternoon.
Fortune? Most exams now are free, although there are some clubs that charge a token fee (~$10 USD or so). Radios from China are cheap and cost around $25.
Sure, the hobby can get really expensive, but it doesn't have to be.
And "standard phrase" is not even accurate. Typically, people "ragchew" on repeaters with the Tech license, but that is not it either. Digital modes, RC/Model airplane control, satellite coms, APRS (GPS tracking), etc.