Sounds like you got all the affirmation you needed Zac:)
The last convention I attended in 2003 very nearly made me physically sick. I knew that only a couple of years before and I would have been lapping up all that bull as though I should be grateful to be so deceived. I'm hoping to catch a convention here in Aus, I doubt I'll last the full distance as you did though. Good for you for doing it though, as I'm sure the experience of using your enquring mind for the first time at one of these things has done you much good.
Thanks for sharing:) frog