[Faetyl]

Ghost can indeed be used over the network.
I actually started using it at work by setting up a "ghostcast server"
This allowed for simultaneous imaging of multiple workstations at once.

I've clocked transmit speeds of a 4gig image being pushed to 20 workstations within 8 minutes.

So it is indeed possible but I'm sure that would be the professional/corporate edition therefore raising that price considerably.
Not to mention the know how to set it up. (which in all honesty isn't that difficult)

And don't forget, you really only need a second drive that's large enough to hold the image so you could set it up with just the OS and some settings and leave the applications out untill you are able to afford a larger drive.