I'm glad you spoke up and other than the one misguided individual who criticized you, I'll bet others were secretly glad you said what they did not have the courage to say. She was out of line expecting free information when everyone else is required to pay.
Once I signed up for a class at my LQS. I was only interested in learning the technique and did not have time to stay for the hands-on section. I audited the first half and left when everyone set up their machines. Even though I was present for only half the class, I never dreamed of not paying for the full enrollment cost or asking for a discount for partial "auditing." Why should I derive a benefit without paying for it?