about RGP contact lenses?

I've been thinking on switching to hard contacts, because soft contacts are kind of expensive and my mother can't get out the idea that contacts are meant to be used for a year. I have astigmatism, but I don't mind using contacts not formulated for it, it doen't feel uncomfortable or moves like some people claim they feel, in my case I don't. In the optic I decided to go to, because it's a recognized one, and then I feel safer, they have only two types of contatc lenses available, or that's what they told me! acuvue and o2optix, the second ones are too expensive for me I think, so i would go for the acuvue, but since this lenses are only meant for a time that varies from 2 weeks to 1 month (acuvue clear) I don't thinkmy mother would be very happy about buying constantly contacts. And the soft contatcs in vials(use for one year) are really expensive. Scandalously expensive I think. I need opinions about this, and specifically about RGP

How hard are they?

How do you take it off?