You lucky, lucky bastards
You have this wonderful thing called a computer show and you snub it. Turn your noses at it. Complain about the entrance fees. well where I'm at we don't have computer shows. We don't heve enough computer stores to fill a one room schoolhouse and a honey bucket. We a happy just to have a CompUSA, bless their hearts. Most of the time it's still cheaper to order online with the 2 day shipping that we are limited to. Most of those companies don't even realize Alaska is part of the U.S., and they try to charge us International shipping. To top it off we have to drive in two feet of snow in the winter up hill both ways.(really do, my house is off a one way street)
Hey its eight dollars to wonder around with a notepad an maybe get some ideas and cheap parts. If you've got nothing better to do it sounds like a good idea to me. Besides, you can always pick on vendors if you get bored.