I'm not sure when Pascal came out but I remember seeing the post at 1:30 p.m. that it was out. Assuming it came out within the hour (it sold out by 3:30 or 4 pm), that's a LOT of people going to be stuck in rush hour traffic in Hollywood. With absolutely no traffic whatsoever and driving a bit more than the speed limit, it takes me one hour to get from my house to Hollywood (this was on Black Friday when I went last year) <--if I was driving the speed limit, it would take about an hour and a half. With light traffic, it takes me at least two hours. With rush hour traffic, it would take me three to four hours since the freeways and all side streets are typically blocked during rush hour. And that's going one-way. I know I could take the Metrolink for $23 round trip, which is actually cheaper than gas, and then get on the Metro to the Hollywood station.
Obviously, there are some people who live closer than I do, that could potentially do the whole trip in one hour (from home/work to Hollywood to home/work). So, taking into account the $17 price tag of the sundae (don't forget that there is sales tax on that $15 sundae) + $23 Metrolink = $40 minimum for the dang pin.
People with multiples have kids or friends who are willing to go with them to get the sundae and pin (and don't collect pins themselves). Me, I already have a hard time convincing my sister to come with me for a DSF release. I couldn't convince anyone to make the trek with me to DSF for a PTD pin.
The Facebook posts that you see 10+ pins, that's usually a group of pin traders' pins, that is they came in separately, got their pins and then put them down for a group photo.