I would have to say though...It would be a very select number of artists I'd pay that for though...I still think it is a rip off, but for me some of them would be worth it.
Linkin Park however, if your in LPU you get to meet them for free at their shows. The LPU is the fan club, it costs $25, but you get your money's worth: A LP t=shirt, autographed pic, 4 guitar pics, bumper sticker, keychain, an CD with unreleased rare songs and demos and some other stuff, along with presale tickets, access to extra multimedia and the meeting the band, that doesn't sound to greedy, seeing $25 is about the price of just a shirt at Hot Topic...
But I'd pay $20 to meet Vanessa, Josh Kelley, Staind, and a few others