I've seen folk at Woodhorn with laptops transcribing, I'd be willing to ask the question next time I'm there. We'd probably get into a closed loop......"you'll need to get the permission of the donor!" Anyway I'd be a willing volunteer to do the job (50% sounds nice Coquet
Can't guarantee how long it would take and I'd need the husband to design the spreadsheet!
You mentioned the pay sites. I have been involved in transcribing on FindmyPast. They involve the likes of NDFHS or Society of Genealogists. They then get money back every time there's a hit on their data. So at least the societies get money. Don't know about Ancestry though.