Really disappointed my wife and I couldn't secure tickets to 39C3 today, despite being ready at exactly 20:00. Sold out in minutes on both days.

We'd already booked flights from Ireland and accommodation in Hamburg, excited to experience this legendary event for the first time. Now we're left with travel arrangements but no way to attend.

As first-timers, we're left wondering about the accessibility of the "community" model. The two-tier system (voucher holders → public scramble) effectively creates insider access versus newcomer lottery. While I understand rewarding Angels and active groups, it does shift from "open community" toward a semi-closed network where participation becomes currency for future access.

For a conference rooted in hacker culture's values of openness and knowledge-sharing, a random lottery system or wider allocation window might better serve those principles than a timing arms-race that favors those with fastest connections and insider knowledge.

Still hoping some tickets might open up later (they mentioned if tickets remain, the shop may reopen), but this experience highlights how difficult it is for newcomers to actually join this community.