The reality is everyone's opinion is valid for the reason they do or do not attend conferences. This is input to the ones that put the conferences on. The conference designers know they can not get everybody to attend, so by knowing the thoughts of the potential attendees they at least know who best to target.
I did not necessarily agree with all sprkplug said, but it does not mean his opinion is not worth anything to conference designers and he certainly did take the time and the effort to make a thoughtful reply.
My idea on opinions is that first of all, everybody has one. And second if I only wanted to consider my own views, why not just talk to myself?
