The price is definitely right for an event of that length. I was thinking it'd be a few hundred as typical of a convention, which this technically is in a way. They're probably keeping the cost down by not paying the speakers as you mentioned and not going through all the bullshit of lining up sponsors who have to be appeased through promotion kickbacks.

I'm personally used of thinking of it as one and the same but that's the army background there talking. It's the survivalist mentality in every situation/location. Definitely there's plenty of value to just being around those who teach getting away from relying on the gov't and utilities for everything plus learning some actual skills to make that happen.