Great question!
He told his family he was going because it was really cheap and beautiful. If someone else was footing the bill, I'm sure it was really cheap...for him. But travel to Eqypt isn't cheap for the rest of us, especially if we stay in decent hotels. Where did he stay? How did he get around? Who fed him?
GRT, take it from a person who has been in (I counted now - 36 countries), it becomes cheap. First, just before or after the season is cheap. Some layovers up to 3 or even 6 days cost nothing. (And the season is not always the best time of the year, the touristy season in Greece is hot, for example). Also, in many places, US three-star hotels equal four-stars and four -starts equal 4.5 i think. You acquire miles everywhere. A good example, from the same Greece: a dinner in a hotel overlooking a moonlit Acropolis is very expensive...well, you need it once in a lifetime, but the next days, follow the Greeks, and you'll end in family-owned restaurants, Greek food, local musicians and people dancing, all cheap. In fact, "follow the locals" ends up much cheaper. He probably did that in Europe. I would think that sitting at home, reading religious books and thinking ends up worse than traveling because in travels, you are constantly distracted by people. Egypt we haven't been to because of this war, but India was cheap and Taiwan is a poorly-known but great destination.
I would say that as a single guy living in Lousiana and earning 120K a year, he could do very well. His marriages and kids were the biggest drainer. But I doubt that anyone paid him. Rather, he put himself in a situation when he ended up living in a slum. My guess: he was shy and overpaid for smiles and hospitality.
As to the type, I think Mohammed Atta's types are very prone to being brainwashed and used by someone. Jabbar appears like this. His father is a super-devout Christian, he ended a super-devout Muslim, small surprise. It is what people extract from the religion, not the religion itself.
I have a slight suspicion that people who are more prone to hypnosis might be easier brainwashed, but not sure if there are studies proving it.
