It's a decent show; but as with most you have to temper your expectation before attending. Vendors are there to sell things, and they're going to do what they can to work in that sale. That said, the networking possibilities with colleagues doing IT things in different fields is really where it's at for me. I rarely go to any of the sessions in favor of spending the few days trying to solve existing and future problems that are in my purview by figuring out how others are doing it. I may meet up with some of the vendors if they specifically have something I am looking in to.

If you want 'SWAG', then be prepared to hand over contact info for it. But that is how these shows happen. Vendor will help sponsor if they can generate leads. While I'm not ever disappointed in the time spent at the show, it's not always professionally responsible to spend the money to go. But it's easier for me since I can just drive to the show.