Agreed. In addition to the ticket prices, there's also the hassle of the far-flung venues, if you want to attend the music events and the film festival, as I did last year. Going from the Peace Plaza to New People was super-convenient; getting from Fort Mason to New People will be a major pain in the ass.
I forked out $85 for the VIP pass last year, so the crushing blow of actual admission prices has already been cushioned somewhat for me. I'll need to see more details about guests, scheduling, and VIP perks before I decide whether to opt for the VIP pass this time around.