I did not have an opportunity to attend NECC this year. I did support the DEN in SL‘s session, watched a good deal online and followed posts on twitter and plurk.  Though I learned some new things and been given ideas to ponder it just is not the same.  I am a proponent of distance learning and love that I could ‘attend’ after a fashion, I do not think anything beats the face to face interaction.  Learning and inspiration are contagious and being physically present can’t be beat.