ChickenTikka, take it easy, don't be so categorical.
It's possible to manage it all by your own, and it'll be much cheaper. I know people who got to a camp by local buses cause 60 Euro each way for taxi from camp is to much. Of course it took half a day to get into a camp but it was some kind of adventure. Even at the airport you can organize a car for 10 bucks less.
However I totally agree, it's better to book a camp for a few days.
$8 a day for four people is much less than 30+ euros per each, don't you agree?
You also can ask guys from camp if you can have food in the camp and leave in a village, it's possible if they have capacity. You can cook by your own if there's some setup in yours accommodation. Rice, fish, veggies and fruits sounds not so bad for me. And it was weird to be in the camp for a two weeks and have just a few seafood meals for all that time when you live next to fishermen village. You can eat western meals at home and in there I'd prefer some local food.