Honestly is there a reason, besides nostalgia, that technology companies need to do trade shows any longer? It wasn't the internet that killed the trade show, it was Digg/Reddit/Slashdot/HN/Youtube/rumor sites...in other words, viral marketing FTW!
Well, from a personal perspective, trade shows are a great place to meet people. If you go to niche trade shows year after year, you get to know the other people who go. I've made some good friends in the trade press who have really helped me out in the past.
