I noticed Jason Rudolph posted a comment on  NFJS:

Compare this symposium to common alternatives for advancing one’s software development knowledge. You could spend $2,700 for a class on web services (yawn) and enjoy a week covering a single topic. The course will surely be filled with half-interested developers and a handful of middle managers just trying to escape work for a week. And oh yeah, expect some fluff. 

I'm curious if anyone else (besides me) plunked down personal cash or took vacation time for this training. I did and feel like it was a great opportunity. Because the show travels around I didn't have to spend much for travel and hotel, etc.

I can save the corp training for conference that requires mucho travel and time. Rather than an expensive French dinner, this was like an inexpensive tapas bar. 

I'm curious if anyone else (besides me) plunked down personal cash or took vacation time for this training. I did and feel like it was a great opportunity.

Yes. As a contractor I gave up on a days pay and paid the entry fee. I got to pick the brains of the speakers plus reconnect with others in the local area that I'd met at previous events. All in all it was well worth it I think.

Hi Merlyn..  I don't think I'd make the trip to Virginia to do it again, but I'd definitely return next year. When I was freelancing, I plunked down a lot of dollars for training too.