I'd say things costing money is actually a good thing not a bad. In years past people would RSVP for everything and figure it out after. So you'd have events that could have easily fit more dedicated fans but because they weren't fast enough they didn't get tickets. Now you have to actually ponder your moves. Seems okay to me.
That's true. When people have to pay, even $5, they tend to only do it if they are serious. Some events explicitly say that's why they charge a small token fee. But on the other side of the coin, it filters out the fans who can't even afford $5 let alone $60. Comic-con has always had a moat. It's just not that it's hard to buy badges, it's expensive. Offsites have been the way for people who can't afford it to still be able to participate.
As for signing up for everything and figuring it out later, that's why there's a standby line. The spot won't be wasted. There's always someone willing to take your spot.
I also like paying for the event and reserving my time. So I don't have to wait in line for hours to get in. That's worth something too.
Free offsites have also had reserved times so that you wouldn't have to wait in line. Well at least not as long of a line. Unless the operators want to be very draconian, there's always a little line whether there's reserved times or not.
