I also don't see the benefit. Personally, I don't think there's a benefit to me by bidding against Rick Latona at these events. It appears he outsources the actual auctioneering, but still bids on the names himself. If true, it gives the impression that the prices might be jacked-up by someone with a financial interest in the convention. If I'm wrong about this, please advise.
Also, I'd be more inclined to participate and pay admission fees for these conventions if certain individuals of spurious integrity weren't offered coveted speaking positions. In reality, it's an insult to have formerly desperate typo-squatters, who've amassed fortune(s), bloviating about the domain business, or sharing their views about anything for that matter. Not only wouldn't I contribute my hard-earned money to this farce, I wouldn't sell them my snot.