Why use Hashcat?

[epixoip]

I see that you guys build out some pretty intense hashing rigs for this purpose. Also that you're willing to drop a lot of money on them.

yes.

Is this a professional endeavor for many of you or a hobby that you're willing to throw big money at???

why can't it be both?

In other words, does your password recovery activity pay for the rig costs?

yes. but you have to actually, you know, be good at it.

Is renting these rigs for "projects" in demand?

no.

Lastly, I have a box running 5, R 290's for scrypt mining, what can I do with that in Hashcat world?

you could run hashcat on it.