lowerourtuition11210: “Is this pure Torah event or a massive fundraising event? It can’t be both.” The last siyum already proved it can be.
If anything, the last Siyum proved that it CANNOT be both. OP is completely correct. My first Siyum was 1990 as well, and the description desrcibed what we all felt. My last Siyum was my last one. I have no intention to go to this one, for the reasons given by the OP.
Look forward to attending the Dirshu siyum instead.