Alternatively - this ensured everyone in the community got a ticket, because everyone was calling everyone to let them know that tickets were on sale. Not great for the isolated developer - but, with only 4500 or so seats available - somebody is going to be left out.
Edit: Okay - perhaps "everyone" is a bit of a reach. Let's just say there was a _bias_ towards people in the community, as their friends and colleagues started SMSing them and calling them to purchase tickets. Though, there will clearly be an east coast / european bias this year - perhaps that was deliberate?
I'm part of the west coast Cocoa/iOS community and only about ~10% of got a ticket (I work on Growl). Prominent devs from Square, Instagram, and other startups that I know didn't get a ticket that all have been going since 2006.
Edit: Okay - perhaps "everyone" is a bit of a reach. Let's just say there was a _bias_ towards people in the community, as their friends and colleagues started SMSing them and calling them to purchase tickets. Though, there will clearly be an east coast / european bias this year - perhaps that was deliberate?