I think you are spot on there, Silver.

I've danced showcases at several different (indy) studios and I enjoyed all but the first immensely as well as the prep work. However, they were / are expensive.

My partner got slammed once though - her instructor kept changing the choreography and then the studio rescheduled the showcase to a day when she had to be out of town. And she had spent a fair amount of money on a dress just for that showcase. She now refuses to dance any showcases there.