@prof: As the cliche goes, even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.
As a long term dealer who went to so many shows I got showitus (kidding!), I found that some manufacturers finally figured it out and skipped the shows altogether or did not have a live "demo" room, but did showcase their newer gear, talk to attendees, serve soda and cookies, and schmooze customers (especially the high-end companies).
As everyone on here knows, your room is the most important component of your system, so why would you go to a show and THEN go to a small hotel or conference room and expect nirvana (the experience, not the band, I hope!)? Of course you did not, but many did hear new things that their dealer may not carry, etc.
OK, go on that for a while, but for goodness sakes, you already KNOW that your room determines your happiness level, so prospecting at a show is fun; making a decision there about a purchase (unless you have done your due diligence and maybe there is a "show special" in effect where you can save some coin) is probably not a good idea. What do you do if you get it home and do not like it?
Cheers!