My league entry fee was $30 last season. I tried to get the league to up it to $50 for 2005, but I ended up settling for $40. I know there are some people in the Cafe who play for huge bucks.
If you have a crowd that is really into fantasy baseball and has low disposable incomes, I think a free league could be ideal, where bragging rights are valued highly. I have found the low disposable income people, but they are not REALLY into our league yet, so I like having a little green to flash in their faces at the end of the season.
My money league is about $150 with various fees plus $1 a transaction or trade throughout the year, so closer to $200 but its worth it cause I've never finished out of the top 3.
Currently I have a $300.00 league and a $200.00 league, and I quit one other $300.00 so I could focus more time on the free H2HWS ... (what was I thinkin'?)
funny though, I always seem to cash out come October, well in excess of $500.00 ..