Man, if you can't get it done for way less then that, it must be REALLY messed up!
A motorcycle tank is probably the best place to start learning body work and paint.(small and easy to handle) If you have no intentions of giving it a try, get it custom painted. Do you know how many people WANT a custom painted tank and can't justify the expense, and here you are having to do it.
Sounds like a win win situation to me.
Good luck.
