Yeah, seems a little silly.
From a parallel experience, I have found that connecting in person with like-minded individuals from a niche, and mostly online, community can be a really positive experience that can keep you going and strengthen relationships.
Seeing posts of convention booth marketing giveaways, i.e., flip flops and other such soon-to-be-garabage, just seems like empty consumerism.
People look like they having fun, though, so I can't complain. Just not my scene.