These conferences are not supposed to be maximizing the "fun" factor for the attendees. The conferences are, first and foremost supposed to be useful for collaboration and networking in their stated field.
Yes. But if the socialising and drinking activities are not organized to be conducive to networking, then it's a party with no benefit to the goals of the conference.
See my comment here https://hackernews.hn/item?id=6376546 where I already agreed that βa conference can (and perhaps should) have many elements of a party in itβ.
