Conference Internet is not an option!

This subject is sure to spawn hate mail abound.  I'm sure that there's an entire camp that will tell me that I'm at a conference or convention, for the conventions subject material - and to get the most out of it, I should leave work, family, friends, interests...<put your item here> behind.  You see, I already know what you're going to say, so save it.   I'm attending DevConnections - In Las Vegas.  With the MVP Discount I believe it cost me somewhere around 1100 dollars to be here and attend sessions.  Another 500+ for my hotel room for a week, meals, plane tickets, not to mention a week of work that continues to go on back at the office. 

Don't get me wrong - I do realize that It's my choice to be here.  That when I make that choice I am giving certain things up, but as a professional, and a developer - IS IT REALLY TO MUCH TO ASK, to have RELIABLE INTERNET access at a DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE?  - Heartland Developers Conference was plagued by the same issues, 3 years in a row now, they've come back half way through the conference and told us they had it working again, removed security...etc, only to have it break hours later.  At Dev Connections, arguably one of the biggest conferences of the year, the Internet access is completely broken.  The vendors (sponsors) stands were high and dry limping along at a 64k connection, and the wireless hasn't worked a single day. 

What are my options?  $500.00 per computer / per day for Internet access.  Yes you read it correctly.  Mandalay Bay charges 500.00 dollars per day, per computer to access the internet.  I assume this is because they don't want you on your computer, they want you in their lounges gambling.  It's their right.  But conference organizers need to realize, that there are issues that come up, situations that need handled, family that needs communicated with.  If we are going to attend a 4 day conference, miles from home Internet access isn't an option, it's required.  I'd even pay some extra associated fee (which is what I do through my cell phone company now, for these stupid situations), or jump through some extra hoops if I had to, but make it work.

Ok, I'm done, back to ADO.NET Performance tuning - given by the wonderful speaker Don Kiely.