The reason for the absence of many manufacturers is simple. The show was assembled on very short notice and with limited resources. See the post just above yours.
NYC Show
I attended th Axpona NYC Show last and despite a disappointing number of exhitors and crowds I heard many excellent sounding rooms such as Rogue/Eggleston Works, Legacy/Coda, Pass/KEF, Linkwitz, Steinway, MBL, Emotiva, Unison Research/Opera and I am sure a few others I am forgetting to mention. I also enjoyed a few Video/Audio demonstrations in the Totem and Thiel rooms. To me it is a bargain to hear all of these great components for $25., espcecially with fewer and fewer brick and mortar high end audio stores. I would go back today, but I have family commitments, but I am glad I worked half a day yesterday and got to spend a good 6 1/2 hours at the show