I watched Bastille playing Glastonbury on the tellybox- not a whiff of backline in sight. Imagine turning up to a gig with just your instrument and a pair of in ears? I envy the brass section in my band for this reason, the singists even more so!
I would like to eventually go in-ears, but in no hurry as I play in pub bands too.
Could you get in-ears for yourself and just take a feed from the foh pa? Surely you don’t need the full band to go in-ears too?