I’m totally with you on that – I’ve never competed there, and never would. It really is a fun crowd, though – all people who love puzzles and wordplay – and worth attending as a non-competitor just for the experience.
Now, that I could get into. I’d love to just be among others who like puzzles and wordplay–and I’d really like to participate in the conversations in the bar during the evenings.
Maybe, someday, I should see if I can be there during competition time. Have to convince my non-puzzler wife that we need to be there at that time, but I guess it could be done… Let me think about this. 