Actually I don't think the seminars are a bad idea for a couple of reasons --
First you get pretty accurate information in a setting where you can take notes, record it, whatever, free of distraction.
Then you also get to put faces with names -- so you've heard of Mr. Program Owner and maybe you even send him traffic -- well now you can see who he is and during the break or after the seminar you can probably get the chance to have a quick word with him. It NEVER hurts to meet people.
The other people you get to meet are the ones IN the seminar with you. If they are not board people or partyers you might not have met them -- and quite frankly you just never know who you will meet at a show that will turn out to be the one person that made it super profitable to be there. And believe me, there's always one of those
