The cost, while still high, does not include airfare. If you don't like it, you drive home. Local mountains teach a lot of beginners. Because repeat business is crucial for their survival, they make it a point to do this right. They try to give new skiers a good value while still making the essential offerings to the profit gods.
Whitetail offers virtually the same thing.
From an instructor's perspective, I have seen far more people who are completely overdressed for the temperature and conditions than I have seen underdressed. Skiing is not a stationary activity. You'll be getting a little bit of a workout, so if you're bundled up like the Michelin man, you'll get real hot and sweaty. The trick to avoiding this phenomenon is to layer. Start with a t-shirt or long underwear, throw on a turtleneck and, if the temperature is going to be below 30 F, put on a fleece or thin sweater on top of that.