I agree with you and Eveline about what a younger Jon might think of himself today. (But then again, I wouldn't want to know what my 20-y.o. self would think of me nowadays, either.)

I have never seen the value of the "VIP experiences" fans get in exchange for the ridiculous prices of RTs or the VIP concert packages. Paying more for seats so you can actually see the band, without depending on a jumbotron, makes sense to me; but the other perks like fan receptions, group photo ops, and folding chairs, not so much.

When it comes to the RT performances, however, I have to disagree. I think Jon sounds better and seems to enjoy himself in the those shows much more than he does in the full band concerts anymore. They actually seem less "dialed in" to me. Maybe it's because it's more intimate or because he knows that anybody who's willing to pay those prices won't mind if he doesn't play the hits and they'll appreciate whatever songs he chooses to sing that night. Whatever the reason, he seems much more engaged in the less formal and less structured setting.