My Zwift setup has slowly evolved over the past year. I started out with only a Cycleops Fluid 2 trainer, a riser block, and Garmin speed/cadence sensors. Having the speed sensor with a compatible trainer lets the software give you a Zpower estimate. I was fortunate enough to have an Ant+ dongle that came with a Garmin fitness watch and heart rate monitor strap. I invested about $10 getting a USB extension cable on Amazon so that I can use my desktop for better graphics and not have to move it.

One thing I would look into Cancuck is if your trainer is compatible with Zwift's Zpower mode. Some older models do not work with it because Zwift does not have the power curve specs to calculate an estimate. If your model isn't supported I've read that it may be able to sort of work in the software, but it won't have accurate numbers and probably will be all over the place when the terrain changes.

I have really enjoyed the Zwift experience, although I tried a race and got smoked so hard I haven't tried one again. One of my new favorite features are group workouts where you can join other people and do the same workout as a pack, but the software uses your FTP to structure the workout rather than everyone needing to do the same workload. I decided a few months ago to upgrade to a power meter and invest in a much stronger fan. These two upgrades have made such a big difference in my enjoyment of the app because my power feels so much more accurate and I'm not cooking after 30 mins of riding.

I will probably at some point upgrade to a smart trainer but my budget won't allow it for now. My best advice for the newbie trying it is to start low budget and get a feel if you enjoy the experience, the workouts, and can see yourself using it frequently. If so, then start making upgrades to make the experience more enjoyable for your situation.

Unrelated: I have recently discovered some other software that does a similar thing as Zwift where you can do digital workouts and I can see some people liking it better. The only one I have personally tried is Sufferfest where you have power targets that match along with cycling race and ride footage. I am a gamer and like the achievements of Zwift better, but just letting new people know there are options.