Stupid wrote:
And the professor’s reasons did not seem to me as a good return to $5K+ investment…I could spend that money on buying links 
that seems a bit high since usually you don’t pay for meals and entertainment…
But even if it were that high, I have never regretted a penny I spent on conventions.
I’d take them over bought links anyday (hehe, that’s an empty statement though since I don’t much believe in their benefit)