| Well, from an observer's standpoint, I can't say I was impressed. I listened to most of it on Shoutcast and caught some updated video shots. It looked like there weren't that many people (unless the camera was misleading). It looked like it was held in some dark underground bunker for people who can't afford a real convention center.
It sounded like people were too quiet and shy to applaud at much or to participate. There was a weird videogame cover-band that was cool for the first three minutes (although I still can't understand why anyone would want to play or listen to videogame music), but they seemed to get the boot and everyone was quiet through their whole set, until someone suggested they come back and play during the Quake tournament when "people can decide to play or watch quake -- or listen to you guys.".
Actually, I felt kind of embarassed on their behalf. I don't think the festival people knew how the band would go over or, apparently, even heard them to realize that maybe five minutes here and there would be better than an entire hour of them all at once.
Then there's the fact that Jon Katz (last I heard, before tuning out) never showed. It wasn't his fault, as Slashdot recently explained. Apparently he was stuck at the airport.
I tuned out before I could hear Rob Malda (argh!) and I tuned out and then back in, missing Eric S. Raymond (double argh!). All in all, I suppose this was an interesting idea but I'm not sure how much steam it picked up this year. There are too many other well-planned conventions to attend that seem more upbeat.
But like I said, I didn't attent -- and wouldn't have even if I could. | 
