Meets etc are useful for networking, but of course it's up to the individual if they wish to meet other fans. I try to encourage fans to interact and form relationships for that reason. My collecting is pretty stagnant at the moment since I've completed G1, but I'm always keen for meets so I can encourage others in their collecting (:

There will, of course, always be differences in viewpoint of course. But yeah, building a network of contacts for trades/group orders etc can be a useful thing. And hey, you might even make new friends out of it.

BTW, I'm not trying to argue with you d*r*j*, merely offering encouragement & a positive view. It's up to others - lurkers or otherwise - if they wish to interact.