Yes, it got ridiculous after 9/11, in that the time taken to process applications regularly exceeded the maximum time the application could be filed in advance of the tour. They managed eventually to get the processing time down to something reasonable, and I've been touring regularly (and legally) for years. However, the effect of the exorbitant application fee (plus increases in the cost demanded by the US Musicians' Federation to rubber stamp it, and an unfavourable exchange rate) is to add a huge overhead - in excess of the air fare as Jeri said - which in turn means confirming one or two very well-paid engagements well in advance, if you're planning to make any kind of profit. You can subsequently fill up the schedule with smaller venues, but even those have to be confirmed and contracted before you submit the visa application, and some organisers aren't able to do that. Also they seem to have got more choosy about the kind of venues you play, so a summer camp or festival is OK but a bunch of coffee houses may not be.

It all adds up to a huge disincentive for UK musicians, never mind the pandemic and the probability that air fares are going to rise as well. And, even before this, I was reassessing my carbon footprint and wondering wheher long-haul is justifiable. Ah well.