Agreed... Last year the company paid for my ticket this year I don't think the new place I am working can afford it. Hard to decide if I should get a ticket anyways.
I'd venture a guess that most of the benefit is derived from the fact that you get to focus for the entire week on taking all of this in, rather than fitting in the videos around your work/family life/etc. That, and the labs and other in-person events that won't be recorded.
The access to engineers and networking with other developers etc is really the main reason for dropping 1500.
And meeting people, having a good time, etc.
The point is to have Apple engineers look at your code, ask questions of the presenters, give feedback to Apple execs, network with fellow developers, attend the various BOFs etc.