I'm on my 3rd set, you get a new set every 2 weeks. Can't see much yet. Will wear them for year and a half I think.
Yes, the first time you put them in they hurt. You put a new one in every 2 weeks, therefore they hurt every 2 weeks. When you take them out the teeth they pull on most are sore and tender.
Yeah, about 1k more than reg braces, I think. I think my whole getup is around 6k, which includes all office visits, x-rays, molding, trays, retainer after, etc.
You are supposed to wear them every second you are not eating. they are 'optimized' for 22 hours a day. Every time you eat or drink something not water you take them out. The good news you can eat anything you want. The bad news is you have to take them out every time you want to eat. This means you can't just grab a quick drink of something, or sit and watch your kids at a game and chew seeds for an hour and a half or stuff like that. Basically water is your drink and snack because you don't take them out for water.