Google I/O got sold out because every body who got the ticket knew that they are going to get a latest android phone which is priced higher than the ticket price! Definitely a big motivational incentive to hit the buy button.
Not true for all attendees but probably for a good percentage.
To say that attendees know they will be getting the latest Android phone is a little presumptuous. That'd be like saying if I wanted a new car, all I need to do is be an audience member on Oprah.
It sure is a grand feat. Could you explain why you think that it isn’t?
In 2009 Google I/O was sold out only after ninety days and Apple’s WWDC was sold out only after more than thirty days. In 2010 both conferences sold out only after a few days.
That both conferences now sell out in substantially less than a day is newsworthy and a grand feat.