[nanocode]

I don't know about all conferences, but in my line of work most conferences cost up to $2000 or even more (for example "late tickets" to a conference I'm attending in June cost $3000). I guess enough people (or rather, employers) consider it valuable enough to pay this price.

[themoonisachees]

Yes, but you'd not be the one buying the tickets, your employer would.

As we know, prices that can be expensed out have a tendency to be considerably larger.