Yes if you purchase Express Pass on a busy day in a prime week it costs a lot. However you could also pay that fee(sometimes less) and get a night in one of their deluxe resorts and get unlimited express pass for your entire party for both your check in day and check out day. Plus, unlike Disney their deluxe resorts are truly deluxe and cost less and you're a short walk or boat ride away from the parks. You don't have to be on a schedule, you can ride all but 2 rides as many times as you want to or can with express and there is no stress of getting up early and scrambling for a reservation and you can park hop back and forth if you want. As for the 2 non-express rides, on busy days Hagrids runs a VQ(which even allows you to push back your return time if something happens and you might not make it) and Velocicoaster runs like a beast and churns through people pretty quickly. Plus they are so amazing even waiting for an hour for them is worth it and with the rest of the rides having express that time in line isn't going cause you to loose out on other attractions.
Universal Express is expensive compared to the
Genie+ but it doesn't work like Genie+ at all. There is no scheduling, there is no other up charges and you are not limited in anyway other than with the 2 rides not on it. And like I said, you can get it for the whole family for two days with just a one night resort stay if you want.