I think you make some good points that apply to conferences in general--at the very least, they can become a real distraction. They can be helpful for "getting your name out there" and it's possible to make some great contacts, but I suspect you can get similar results cheaper through other means.
My own experience, I've found conferences to be really draining when prospecting for sales leads--there's tons of people there but it's impossible to meet them all. From 8am to 11pm for several days, I'm running around in a suit, sweating and uncomfortable, trying to meet total strangers in order to sell them things they may or may not want. Good times :-)
My own experience, I've found conferences to be really draining when prospecting for sales leads--there's tons of people there but it's impossible to meet them all. From 8am to 11pm for several days, I'm running around in a suit, sweating and uncomfortable, trying to meet total strangers in order to sell them things they may or may not want. Good times :-)