Yes I went in 2005 and stayed at the Sahara (now SLS) and it was only $40 a night on the week nights. I was only making 30k per year back then but I could still afford to stay there for nearly a week, eat, drink, gamble a little and see some shows. To do all the same things I did 12 years ago there would cost probably 3x as much now at a similar hotel.
I also went in summer 2001 and it was reasonably priced. I love Vegas but I wonder if at some point people will get sick of being nickel and dimed to death and either stop going or stop going to the big resorts on the strip and go to hotel / casinos on the outskirts of the city. I just don't know how so many ppl have all that money to blow on food, drinks and entertainment.