Part of the cost of bypasssing the line will be determined by the size
of the line, which in turn will be based on what the line feeds. If it a
main line coming off the WH, and is leaking between the WH and the first
place it splits off to, it will be a larger pipe than an end run. If you
are real lucky, maybe the line will only go to some noncritical spot
like a vanity sink in a half bath. If so, you could run a much smaller
line (3/8) which would be much less in both materials and labor. So the
hot water comes out a little slower-- big deal. Larry