So I just got back from my first convention (Furnal Equinox) yesterday, and I can totally see the appeal of them now.
The panels were great and the events were a ton of fun, but the biggest thing was just being surrounded by people that were all the same brand of weird as me.
... I also now understand why post-con depression is a thing. It's a lot to be ripped back to the 'normal' world like that.
@Argent I'm very glad you enjoyed yourself this con, despite the... big issues. i.e. the Night Market lineup madness and the hotel absolutely dropping the ball with the elevators.
@Ironraptor Thanks. And yeah, I won't say everything was perfect, but I suspect I was excited enough to gloss over most of the issues in my mind. (The elevators were particularly crazy, though, for sure)
@Argent I am... .very VERY lucky I was on the 9th floor and was relatively short a hike dragging my stuff down, but oh my god, by far THE WORST elevator situation I've ever dealt with, and I was there for Anthrocon 2001 and THAT whole hot mess.