To clarify because I think my post was rather incoherent. When I say lj party, I mean that various local lj users who normally only interact electronically, actually get together face to face at the next con. The fact that we feel the need to have such a gathering reinforces what you are saying.

gialiat is running the next Phoenix meeting discussing whether organisations like Phoenix might have a more online existence. Obviously issues such as you mention will come up as auguments against. I suspect she also plans to talk about technologies such as online video and how those might affect the face to face requirement (if at all - personally I suspect not).