Request suggestions for PDF printing of forms such as paychecks, W2's

This question is on two levels. I see this as an up and coming project at work, and even there I doubt we will be purchasing BI Publisher as we are in cutback mode. More inportantly, for my own clients who want an application on the cheap. I have seen posts about PLPDF. I would consider it, but then I am not sure who could host the application with the condition of needing plpdf as a requirement.
I have looked at FOP, and even installed it. Like many others, I don't have a lot of xslt formatting experience, and a cheap or free tool for creating a report format would be really helpful. Having to purchase a $600 tool really cuts into a $1000 dollar project.
What are available options? The key concept is I am trying to replicate other people's forms in PDF, such as W2's and Paychecks, so the look and feel has to be professional.
Way back in the day, I would write a Visual FoxPro app that used Crystal Reports to format the report. It wasn't too difficult to write applications for small companies that have a real business need and not lots of cash. I want to accomplish the same thing with a Web application using Oracle XE, APEX, and perhaps FOP or another tool. I just need suggestions from those that have already solved this problem!
Thanks!
Ken Lee

Suggestion. (you caught my attention with the Visual Foxpo talk.. Been there, done that, glad I am doing Oracle now).. If your budget is $1000, maybe you should look at a hosting company to host your app that offers BI Publisher. Revion.com (http://www.revion.com/hosting/apex.html) has a $9.95 a month hosting plan that INCLUDES BI Publisher as a feature).
In the APEX development projects I have , I have them hosted there to save the clients money & effort, since they don't need to deal with the hosting issues and can just use the applications I build and have access to BI Publisher for reporting needs.. You do need to download the Bi publisher desktop add-on for MS Word, but then you can access existing templates to print W2 forms, paychecks and whatever..
Not saying its the ONLY way, but I have found it the more affordable way..
(No I don't work for them, or get a commission for directing people there, I just send people to a company I trust working with..)
Thank you,
Tony Miller
Webster, TX

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