When I was a student, I usually took a bus for Nara <-> Tokyo for around 5000 Yen each way - but that was barely tolerable, indeed. Even if the bridge to cross the Osaka bay must add a significant cost to the ticket when coming from Tokushima, I would be surprised if you could not find cheaper.

Yup, I'm starting to feel that it can't be awesome enough to justify $200 and 20 hours sitting on the bus. Still it's very cool that these HN meetings happen and I agree Tokyo is the best place for them.