I don’t like the way the 21K is just thrown around. There are many people who can’t afford to send their daughter away. The way you state it, sort of like a joke. what me worry style. I wish people would show more derech Eretz to poor folk. I was able to send me daughter but we got a reduced rate via the Masa web site, and she had gotten some grants from her high school so it cost us 5K. Still we preferred not to spend on her coming back for Pessach. Most of the kids do. We didn’t visit as a family although I made a winter trip. THe story would have been just as impactful without mentioning the money part.
It is expensive but then so is all the years before what with the tuitions.
I still think there is a positive atmosphere in them going. Regarding the carousing with opposite sex, it’s not everyone in my daughters case there was none of that from her seminary. and how do you know what you saw was seminary or Yeshiva boys, they could be tourists visiting, it is after all the in thing to do for Succos. Its probably more about feeling connected to Eretz Yisroel or not. and again, I understand the finances part.