[miz_wright]

For me, and the work that I do, there can be great value in a show from a networking perspective. I may get new business, but the relationships that come home with me from a show are something I won't get via ICQ - and I take a long-view approach, typically. I would really like to see things like round-robin networking dinners, or non-industry speakers (because we need people to speak who aren't focused on pimping a program or safeguarding their secrets), et cetera.

Shows are incredibly valuable to me from the perspective of the job I do, and while it's certainly true everyone needs to blow off steam sometimes, there are many opportunities to make the shows a stronger opportunity for business than they are currently.