Howie
I would convert your R*. You can not do this thinking that your going into it as an investment. Vehicles be it cars,trucks or motorcycles cost a certain amount. The minute you drive off the lot you take a hit.
What you need to think about is that your doing this for you! And if you can get several more years of fun from riding a trike it should be worth what you spent. I know people who take vacation trips that cost in the thousands and they might come home with some pictures and memories. Well your trike can do the same and maybe you won't get back everything you have put into it but you won't lose out completely either. I'm in the process of building a R* trike myself that my wife is going to ride.
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff251/hardone2get/sept2009002.jpg
I know champion makes a nice kit but I can tell you that their raked front end is way too expensive. You can purchase this complete raked front end in chrome for alot less.
http://www.bulldogscustomcycle.com/servlet/the-1/Raked%2C-Trees%2C-Front-End%2C/Detail
Now as for trike kits there are cheaper ways to go. Here is one that sells the same differential as what I have.
http://www.santiagochopper.com/media/Santiago_Chopper_Revised/trikes.htm#
He can make you a swingarm, but you would have to do the mechanical work of the install which is not that hard to do. I didn't care for his fenders so I elected to purchase ones made for a wide tire chopper. I also built my own swingarm which has saved me hundreds. So the point is there are cheaper ways to build a trike and no matter which one you choose just do it and go out there and still be in the wind and get as much use out of what you spent as possible, take pictures and take with you the memories of having fun riding!!And that is priceless
Danny