If you actually look at the statistics the income distribution is not much different than the US.

The well off narrative makes it an interesting news story. There is no news story about how burning man has the same income distribution as the US.

I have wanted to go since 1996 but never have. When I was younger, being on the east coast always made it so very remote.

Now with age I wouldn't even want to go to some weekend festivals I went to as a kid let alone burning man.

I think if you are young and really want to go you have to seize the moment. The moment might not come again and not because you can't but because you won't.