>> Back in the old days, when Microsoft and before them, Fox Software, ran DevCon, it was a cost center, not a profit item. <<

Hi Tamar,

At the VFP 3 launch DevCon in San Diego (1995?) there were well over 2000 attendees. Let's say 2000 paid at $1000 a pop -- that's $2 million. I can't say with any certainty that they made a net profit on the conference, because I am not privy to Microsoft's books, but I don't think you can call something which takes in $2 million a cost center.

Mike