regularly dying and if you step on one, they let you know they aren't dead yet.

Mowing the lawn can be an issue. I have never been stung, but my wife was stung once. Bees get a little more grumpy during the "dearth" when it dries out and there aren't a lot of flowers around, but they are generally very gentle and docile. The bees I have right now, I don't even smoke when I handle them. I don't take chances and wear a veil, but I have a regular long sleeve shirt on that they can sting through. Haven't been stung for a long time. We have friends that mow around their colonies and have never been stung. I think my wife got stung because she was dawdling around the front of the hive with the mower...

Bees in the backyard with kids in the backyard- no problem as long as they don't stand right in front of the opening.

A small colony of bees is less than $200. The beekeeping boxes and frames are around $300 for each colony IIRC. Various equipment (jackets, tools, etc), probably about $300 for each beekeeper. My recollection is that my wife and I spent about $2K for three colonies to get started and equipment for both of us. I am paranoid about protecting my assets, so I formed an LLC which owns the bees and I bought business insurance for them. That costs me $350 a year, but IMO, you really don't need it.

I use a friend's harvesting equipment, but if you buy your own, that is about another $2K all in.

The effort is like learning. Bees are fascinatingly complicated. Time during the season - not much. Honey harvest day is a big effort. I love catching swarms, but don't have to - that keeps me a little busier than just having bees. It is a lot less than a dog for sure.