I think you are being way too cynical here and think you can put the noose away. We can't always all make it, as John Lennon would say, "Life is what gets in the way while you're making other plans". I, for example, had a vacation planned, so couldn't be there this time. Big deal. Also, the list of active members is in flux all the time. Consider: if this show was in Nebraska instead of Pennsylvania, how often would you be there? Hopefully, next show will have a better forum turnout...but maybe not.
I agree, and I'm tired of feeling guilty for being unable to attend. For the April show I even sponsored an artist, knowing I couldn't be there.
Many years ago, there used to be nice collectible shows every month (or every other month?) in Rockville Centre. I was a teenager, so my mother used to drive me, almost an hour each way. There were a few non-sports card dealers, movie posters, some action figures and toys, and some sports cards. That's where I bought beautiful keeper sets of the Wacky reissues as they were issued. Movie Treasures was the dealer I always went to first for cards. When that show ended, he used to comp me in to the Creation Con dealer room at shows in NYC. My mother even drove into NYC for me. But, even when I was old enough to drive, I never went further than NYC until the 3 or 4 shows I made in Allentown. Since then, my family obligations and responsibilities have changed, and I can't go that far anymore. I need to be here for my mother - cannot be 3 hours away. And some of you might not believe the tolls to get off this island and out of the state.
Quite honestly, I'd love to not just attend at Allentown, but to volunteer to help run the show. I helped run the huge dealer's room at I-Con for several years. But, the venue (Stony Brook University) was 15 minutes from home. Three days of 7am - midnight craziness and running around, but I loved it. Funny though, that was primarily sci-fi, but I found my last missing Wacky alternate back puzzle piece there.