Ian, my raison d'etre was not to achieve 'likes' at the Show; and I dont say that. You are putting words in my mouth.
My point is about equality and fairness. In the post mortem threads people are making qualitative judgements about the systems not on a proper basis. (Either they havent given each room an equal opportunity, or the music played is different in each room they visit, or they have focussed on one format over another (say vinyl over CD), or they may have got tired by the end of the day etc etc..)
In my view those people venturing opinions should supply the necessary caveats e.g., 'I didnt get a chance to visit all the rooms, but of those i did these were the highlights for me..etc'. In a way I'm making an academic point about how to write a fairminded review.
I think the standard of the post mortem threads could be improved and judgements made more relevant e.g., by having different classes of systems designated in the programme. These would be a guide for paying customers to get a handle on the relative 'sound per pound' abilities of the system.
There's a golden opportunity here to make valid comparisons by bringing your own CD or record and play it in every system that interests. Nobody does it, despite me recommending it every year.
Of course I know that valid and rational comparisons are best made at your local bake offs (ive been to a few! and staged one official one besides many off the cuff private ones) but it doesnt follow that we cant do a bit better at Kegworth.
And neither does it mean that because I am raising these issues, I, therefore, view the WHOLE event as a competition. I, too, enjoy the conviviality of the show and meeting up with old friends. (Not to mention getting wellied on setting up day..) After all, the post mortem threads have been like this for years and I still keep coming with my system. Ive never achieved a high proportion of 'likes' so my reason for coming to the show time after time cant be to accumulate them.
Maybe the Wam show 'is what is'. But that's never been a motto of mine.
Jack NSM