The main difference, as you pointed out yourself, is that "if you are on a budget" you shouldn't be doing something like this without adequate resources in the first place. Otherwise, some of the nay sayers have a point about every Tom, Dick, and Harry trying similar stunts because it would be cool. Perhaps he should have gotten additional sponsorship revenue before taking flight. Hind site is always 20/20 and it is even easier for us to arm chair quarterback this from behind the computer, but if he planned for every contingency - he certainly would have been aware of the McMurdo Station policy in advance.