Texas is $500 for the conferring of the Degrees. That being said, I was able to receive ALL 29 Degrees during my Reunion. That is not the norm everywhere, but it is here. The Valley of Dallas confers the 4th - 32nd Degrees Spring and Fall; Terminal for Summer Reunion. For a full production theatre for all of that Light...way worth it! The main difference with Scottish Rite really comes down to the educational aspect. To say it is more scholarly than other Bodies would be unfair; but, I am finding way more to dig into than any other Body that I am in.
The other fact is that YR and SR are very similar in most all aspects. The main differences are in delivery and numbers. Each Valley is VERY large compared to any other Body, bar the Shriners, from what I've seen. If all of the Chapters in the Dallas area you'd need some bigger numbers to pay for everything too. Both YR and SR operate on mainly dues, now-a-days. At one point there were hundreds of Candidates for Reunions and Festivals...it's just not that way anymore.
The reality is: You either pay up front or throughout the year--nothings free. Any Brothers in Grotto want to chime in on that? From what I understand, you pay little up front, but to be an active member is pretty expensive. I'd say it's a wash between the two.
Dues are going up everywhere. If they aren't going up in your Lodge and you aren't merging with others...you are either doing something right--or totally wrong! It depends on the situation, but we need larger Lodges, bigger events, and more elaborate functions. Keeping Brothers active and potential Candidates interested is going to take more than an empty Lodge in a ricketty building isn't going to cut it for the incoming generations.
Sucks to come in when the cost just gets raised...but it has to happen sometime--it needs to be happening more frquently--and all over.