I agree with you on most of what you're saying here.
Speed Networking-
Probably the best I've seen it done was in Internext Vegas '10 where we were at the round tables and each person got 2 or 3 mins to pitch to the entire table, then once the rounds were made we rotated. Tom was the moderator and it was going good but there was a kink in the musical chairs formula and after 2 or 3 rotations we kept winding up at tables wth the same peeps. If they could iron that one out I think it would be the best format.
Also businesses shouldn't try to brute force a speed networking event with their entire crew. At one event I was talking to the 4th or 5th person for a certain company who said, "Well, I'm really just the administrative assistant, but here's my boss's card!"
Webcasts / Panels -
I remember a few different webcasts over the years but I agree, there should be more web coverage of the show, but along with the increased exposure the quality of the panels could use a little work as well. This is somewhere adult can look back at mainstream. Maybe it's just me, but events like Ad Tech don't seem to be hurting.
I'm not at this Cybernet, but let me also add that Connor Young from Ynot is also a pretty bad ass moderator who does research on the topic being discussed and stirs the pot / gets people talking about not the same old shit.
I say make it like the gong show. Every time a speaker works their way back to the same old self promotion talking points bang the gong or ring a really annoying buzzer. It sounds juvenile, but honestly I think it would be an entertaining improvement.
New Idea- Attendee Face Book
I don't know if any show has done this yet, but what if when you register your show badge online you get a listing on the show site. A "Face Book" in the litteral sense of the word. Just a 100x100 avatar, Name, Company, maybe 2 or 3 pitchlines and contact info to set up a meeting. Throw it into a directory that people couls sort by company / niche / name, etc. Seems like an automatic value add AND it would increase the # of early bird registrations. Early registration = more exposure
