Seriously, I can't imagine that the booking/payment policies are really that different from an industry convention or a business conference or a wedding -- which there was at least one person pointing out that there were two being held at the hotel at the same time DashCon started. So why this whole thing would get so out of sorts just because people were showing up in silly costumes is beyond me.

Your explanation makes a lot more sense, though, especially since even a lot of the con's supporters have been pretty quick to point out that DashCon's actual attendance fell really far short of their projected attendance.