An interesting read and I respect your objectives and feelings. I started at York about 25 years ago and have spent a lot of money at York. I don't recall when I started going to the Big E, but it is much more recent.
For me, York had ALWAYS been a multi-day affair. Big E is not. When I first started coming to York, I had a couple of friends I generally hung with and York was a search and buy event. Over the years that has greatly evolved. In addition to having sessions which tell is what the manufacturers are doing, the social events let us meet other train "nuts" which makes it easier to learn things. Just as this Forum does.
IMO that is a very important part of York. You probably have no idea how helpful the DCS dinners (regrettably not available at this York) and the Legacy morning meeting have been. Did you go to the LCCA dinner and meet people? The OGR Forum dinner? The Thursday morning breakfast? The ED socials on Friday night or Saturday morning? The OGR Forum meeting at 2 on Friday?
Talk about the expense of a couple of days at York. What did the Legacy engine cost? What do you want out of the hobby?
Did you make any new train friends or renew older acquaintances?
So respectfully, I would say you have barely scratched the surface of what the York experience offers.
Gerry
