Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Starting thru Russia, visa costs?

Starting from Helsinki, planning to head somewhere in southern or eastern Europe in May. Previously set off via Sweden & Estonia several times, and also taken boats to Germany and Poland, so this time we (me & my girlfriend) thought we might try the ´overland´ route to St Petersburg, and from there onwards to either Latvia or Lithuania, then further south.

Problem is we will need visas for Russia. The normal cost is 35 euros, but there´s some kind of ´recommendation´ needed, so it looks to me like you will need a travel agent to handle the application (there are plenty here, who advertise they do this). They then charge you for their service, so the cost is beefed up to double, 70 euros each.

Means that together we´d have to pay 140 euros just to enter Russia. And then ride to St. Petersburg, possibly spend the night there, and ride a little way to the south, and exit the country. Sounds a bit ridiculous to me. The same amount of money would get us across the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn, and a good way south across the Baltics, too, maybe not into Poland, but close.

Is there really no way around this? And also: are these figures roughly in the ballpark? Of course this wouldnt hurt so much, if you planned to stay longer in Russia, but if it´s just one of the countries you want to ride through on your way to your destination, it is different. I thought about a transit-visa, too, but I hear the cost would be about the same.

Think I´m slowly starting to realize, why so few travellers from Finland ever ride through Russia on their way to Europe, or vice versa!

BTW, the embassy here mentions, that you will need to register at each one of your accommodations, when you´re in Russia... is this actually still enforced (and failing to do so might mean you´ll get fined, when exiting the country?)