For basically my whole gaming life starting in the early 1990s, PC games have been ~$50. It is frankly shocking that the price points have been so sticky. $50 in 2000 dollars is $96 today. Inflation is real. It sucks, but that's the reality of economics. It is completely reasonable for video game prices to appreciate along with everything else.
> The number of people who left cities when remote work gave them the chance should make that obvious
The number of people who left cities is a remarkably small part of the US population and many of them just left high-cost cities for other lower-cost cities.
ACOUP is very aware of the pedantry part. He is also an avid gamer himself (see his extensive articles about what the Paradox grand strategy games get right and wrong).
It gets even tougher if your conference or convention does NOT target a business audience (who often can just expense a $500 ticket). For general interest or hobby conferences, you are much more money limited while the costs of venues remain just as high.