i've got nothing to do with this, i'm just pointing out that if you gather people for a conference everyone has to pay to get there.
there is a conference coming up in madeira in march, but i'm already here, but i also don't think i'll be speaking at it. but who knows, maybe i will.
you are right to be hostile towards the infuencoor free riding problem though, they dilute the distribution of resources that would be available for more productive things.
i would also suggest that valuing adoption above all else is a grave mistake, however. better to have fewer users and no compromises than compromise something fundamental and wind up being coopted.