You really can't discount the value of sitting down for an hour to theme park guests. The vast majority of Americans are not up for 8 straight hours of power walking. Hardly just an HHN thing, last night at EPCOT I noticed people sitting on every curb, step, bench in front of a closed show, etc.
I'm all for cutting a SZ to fund a new show. Traditional SZs are fundamentally broken with the crowds the event attracts on the regular these days--the whole concept probably needs to be re-thought.
That said, there have only been insubstantial price increases for over a decade now. I'm certain less than the rate of inflation, while the resort in general and the event in particular has exploded in popularity with both locals and out-of-town guests. It's crazy to me that a FFP a decade ago good for 7 houses back when UOR was on the verge of being shuttered cost maybe $10 less than one for 10 houses at an event that routinely sells out this year. AP prices have gone up, parking fees have gone up, merch prices have gone up, food & beverage prices have skyrocketed--why should HHN tickets be the exception?
It never really mattered, bulk of the fan base for a while has been service industry people, who don't get traditional weekends, and UCF students. Throw in the lifestylers, any given night is packed.