Ok, for fear of being shot; geckos most definately are NOT more time consuming than cats! (I have two!) And you can stroke them, they just aren't as fluffy as a cat!(Mine respond to being stroked much like a cat, by closing their eyes and raising their head for more fuss!)
Nick, I do think your course of action would be fairly beneficial to humankind, though!
Sonya, you'd love and hate my house at the same time if you think reps are horrible little things!
I do see what you're saying, though. How he can afford a tegu and not a cat, I don't know!(If money is indeed the problem.)