1. First, I'd master database and cryptography fundamentals, with something like Dan Boneh's course for the latter
2. Then, I'd read the Bitcoin.org and Ethereum documentation
3. Then, you should write short Python or Go scripts to do things like printing out the blockchain, formatting and signing a transaction by hand, managing private keys, that type of thing. This will give you a feel for the raw data structures.
4. After doing all this, I'd take a look at application libraries like Ryan Shea and Muneeb Ali's new blockstack.org
The reason I'd do it in this order is that you would learn fundamentals first before proceeding to the cutting edge.
yeah, my cost with flight, hotel etc will approach 2k dollars. Throw in lost billable time with clients and this is a 5K investment for a one day conf I could watch online. The key is going to be what I make of the hours that I spend not sitting in a seat during that day. Meeting people, making connections etc.
Any plans on making this list publicly available?