Last minute can be a bit pricy. But Boston to NYC is 40-78 dollars. Bus is 40, and takes 2x longer, and uncomfortable. I can get 4 hours of work done. It's not Europe, but it's really a way nicer experience than I expected.
Which sucks for a public good. Imagine if roads worked this way (and no, surge pricing of express lanes don't count, since there's no discount for using it at the same time having booked it two months in advance). Or, like, water use.
Which is genuinely infuriating when you subsequently board a half-empty train.