I actually wrote a reply earlier today but LJ ate it! It was words to the effect that we really need to draw up the cloud of arguments and their connections on this. Many people are arguing only one facet of a complex and grey argument. Not that I thought you were doing so (:-) ) but that your neat list made me think that aggregating everything would be useful. We need a big white-board though!

I think that some sort of aggregation would be useful.

Unfortunately the fact that I (and others) haven't been able to keep up and have been posting our thoughts in separate journals won't help whichever brave soul tackles that job.

The running debate over on greteldragon is up over 250 comments now.

I reckon that if a couple of people had a computer and a huge whiteboard and did it systematically it might work! :-)

Sounds good to me.

Then again whiteboards always sound good to me.

Mind you whiteboard addiction is a known occupational hazard for business analysts. :)

And scientists!

Oo, an interactive whiteboard even.

Sorry, John, I should have commented and said 'Hear, hear', but I was busy defending my honour and that of my friends elsewhere.

Looks like the three of us should get in a room with one!

Works for me. :)

I was busy defending my honour and that of my friends elsewhere.

OK, looks like I missed more than I thought. Do you need any support/help anywhere?

Not at all. I'll fill you in when I see you.

Yeah, you're just not controversial enough. Try starting out with "Con X is much better than Swancon" and you'll probably get more replies.

OK, the other reason is that it's all too time-consuming. Most of the comments deserve extermination, not aggregation. stephen_dedman's Survey says members want it to be longer, shorter, larger, smaller, but most of all, cheaper and with more expensive guests. What some people want (i.e. the whole universe at almost no cost) can make for entertaining, but not fruitful, discussion.
I think 99% of the useful comments are covered by:
* Swancon could benefit from better promotion.
* Swancon might do better if more focused.
* Newcomers should be more actively encouraged and introduced to others.
* Children, as such, are not a problem. Individuals, regardless of membership of some subdivision of the human race, or some other race, by age, gender, orientation or beliefs, should be dealt with individually if troublesome. (... expanded on by rdmasters)
* A traditional fannish con and the programme-light daytime-only events that have sprung up in the last few years do not necessarily appeal to the same audience.

Nice summary.