You can't tell if $350 is expensive or not if you have no idea of what you are getting for it. I wouldn't go to the conference even if it was free and 2 meters from home.

I need a basic idea of what's going on there, and the main advantages. Usually, I go to a conference to listen a little, and socialize as much as I can. Different kind of conferences, different people. I discover other people who have other crafts.

Well, maybe it's just me.