Ok, I agree the guy could have just watered his lawn, or put up a walker sprinkler at least.
But replacing or correcting a sprinkler system, is not cheap. Ours cost around $4k, each head in the back yard is $45 each. If you get those water flow ones, they can be $100-$150 each. It costs about $50 to add a new garden. When an underground line broke, it was about $100 just in parts, before labor, and new sod.
It's something like $1.25 per sq foot for a sprinkler system, and about $50 per 50 feet for drippers.
I wouldn't say it's cheap for someone that can't afford a car. But a garden hose damn sure is
