A 12v system, like Varn has, is way cheap, and easy to boot.
I put one in my last RV.
PV Panel, mounting brackets, charge controller, and wire, was about $200 as a set (due to the store honoring a catalog misprint!!
:P should have been about 100 more)
Add a couple deep cycle batteries, and you can have a full solar system for $1000 or less (depending how little electricity you use)
For a cabin or RV, there is really no drawback.
For a house, you would either have to run everything through an inverter (which loses some efficiency, therefor you need a bigger system) or invest in 12v lighting and appliances.
I'm not sure why more people don't skip the utility inter-tie, other than the installers and utilities push for it because it costs more and makes them more. I understand why a grid inter-tie works for some people, but people seem to think its the only option - then when they see the cost, many people decide its not worth it at all.