I'll start off by saying that mine is most likely a terrible opinion on the subject and therefore shouldn't be assigned much weight, but here goes. It's only one opinion from a socially withdrawn individual anyway.
Is it expensive to attend a PB conference? Heck yes. Is it worth it? Well....in my case probably not. But if someone is new to ponds, or totally infatuated with everything pondish, I have no doubt they will come away feeling satisfied. I have been to a conference at Big Cedar, and have attended a few regional events. And without a doubt the thing that still stays with me even today, is getting to meet, and hang out with people I met through the website. It's great.
Now the speakers and presentations? I'm on the fence. I feel that a lot, a whole lot actually, of conference content and magazine content as well, is almost painfully detailed. If I'm laying up a concrete block retaining wall, I don't need to know where the aggregate inside the block was procured, and by what quarrying method. I just need to know that the finished block meets relevant specs, and some help on how to lay the first course straight and level would be most appreciated. I can take it from there.
And that's where the pond/fish infatuation comes into play. If you're one of those ultra detail guys, you have much to gain by attending the presentations. The same with the vendors... in this day and age, I can find pretty much whatever I want where product and info is concerned, right at my keyboard. If you need to see it firsthand, or fondle it, or delve into excruciatingly detailed analysis with a rep, then that's another great reason to attend.
But if you're going for some simple fellowship, to meet the people you know from the forum, that's a bit of a different animal for me. That's the part I like.....just hanging out and talking about everything....not just ponds or fish. And you can do that at a conference. But it isn't always easy, due to the afore-mentioned presentations and vendors. It sometimes seemed to me that there was too much happening to allow much fellowship. I have enjoyed myself much more at regional get togethers, some "sanctioned" by PB, some just off the cuff, hanging out and fishing. So is a conference worth it, if socializing is your goal? To me it isn't, but that's just me.
Is the PB enterprise geared towards Texans? I would definitely say yes. There's a strong Texas contingent, many know each other, PB itself is based in Texas, and well, let's just throw it out there: PB is a business. And the goal is profit. Why wouldn't you play to the money, just a little? If I had a business selling maple syrup supplies, I wouldn't spend as much time talking to folks in Tennessee as I would people in Vermont. I would be happy to sell product to Tennessee, and would be glad to travel and promote my business wherever the opportunity presented itself. But the bulk of my energy would probably be spent further north. That's where my bread ( or pancake) is buttered at.
The growing season for fish is longer down south. It doesn't mean the northern pondmeisters are removed from the theatre, it just means their seats are a little further from the stage. Nothing personal, just economics.
