Unfortunately Google I/O has become a "why not" conference. I would love to go to Google I/O at current prices even if they did not offer any swag. Unfortunately that doesn't seem apply to most people trying to get a ticket. They really should get rid of the swag and/or add random programming challenges during the registration process.
The problem is Google I/O is used to launch new products and hold tech talks. There's a lot of overlap of people who are interested in both, but now the audience has grown too big.
This was the same problem GDC was having a while back--too many attendees weren't interested in the game developing but were there to check out new games. Making GDC developers-only and creating PAX for product announcements was a great way to handle the issue.
Well, I personally believe if they stop giving swags a lot of people won't go with $900 price tag. I personally will not. It's not just because I don't want swag, I want to meet the engineers working with the products and services I like and want to ask them questions but on the other hand almost all the talks are recorded online and you can view them for free on YouTube.
As opposed to the $2,200 RSA conference where the "swag" consists of a $15 equivalent back pack ? I suspect it would sell out quickly without the swag.
I was able to reserve a ticket only to time out trying to pay with Google Wallet: http://i.imgur.com/vSCppd8.png
The problem is Google I/O is used to launch new products and hold tech talks. There's a lot of overlap of people who are interested in both, but now the audience has grown too big.
This was the same problem GDC was having a while back--too many attendees weren't interested in the game developing but were there to check out new games. Making GDC developers-only and creating PAX for product announcements was a great way to handle the issue.