The extinction of human interaction takes yet another step forward...

The Times they are ah changing. I see no reason not to support an online tradeshow of this nature. Did or is this displacing a known audio show?

I think that's a good observation, but let's zoom out by another factor:  how about audio recordings, listened in the privacy of one's own home, also removing one from social interaction with other audiophiles, and the performers, themselves?  

We are mammals, not cyborgs, and no amount of computer hardware can change that salient fact.

Nor should it ever try to for the consequences would be dire.

Having said that, there's no reason why software based online Hi-Fi shows can't co-exist alongside hardware based actual ones in the same way that pornography can substitute for sex.

We all have needs and thankfully there's a place for both.

Because they would never mess with human interaction on-line the way they bury results they don't like with search engines, they would never just declare your opinion misleading information in order to censor it, or stop you from buying what you want because they don’t care for your views, no of course not and even if they did it would all be for your own good so you would be thankful for their watchful benevolence. Right?

Some very good and thought-provoking responses.  I have to say that validating online audio shows using porn as an analogy was very unexpected, and effective.  I agree that if I can’t make it to an audio show it’d still be interesting to glean what I can thru some high-quality digital reproductions — better than nothing, right?  As always, MC’s sarcasm sprinkled with insight is appreciated.  I do hope we find a way forward where all the digital convenience can coexist and enhance the overall human experience, but maybe, and as with many new things in life, we need to over pursue in a new direction first to find the ultimate balance.  I sure hope that’s the case here.