First, no one makes you read any "trip report". If you know that's what a post is about, why not just skip it if all it is going to do is drive up your blood pressure?
No, unfortunately we are not all "with it" here...but that doesn't mean that a vast majority of us here do not share the same passion for the industry. I, like many others, like seeing here what other shows have so that I at least have an idea of what I'm going to see when/if I ever run into them out there somewhere. It's also beneficial to me to see what fairs/festivals of various sizes get in terms of numbers and kinds of rides, games, food....so that I have some comparison in terms of things for my fair.
ANd as far as only IGGY'S counting bubs, funny thing it seems most show owners I know are concerned about lighting. THey have at least one day or more per week that the do lights. If they are such Iggy's, then I guess the whole industry is screwed. You show me an owner who doesn't care about lights, and I'll bet you it's an owner who doesn't care about anything more than sticking the dollar in his pocket at the end of the night, no matter what the cost to his show or his equipment. Everyone always [ SYSTEM EDIT ]es about how help is rough or doesn't take care of equipment....
Oh, and as for the waste of time on trip reports, then I'd suggest those of you who are on here that have expressed your disatisfaction with the trip reports NOT get on here next Feb and ask "what's at Gibtown" "What's at the trade show" because that is a simple trip report as well.
There were trip reports on this board A LONG time before many people that now post here ever knew about the site. To those who post trip reports, I say keep it up and keep the reports strong. I know I will!