@Matthew McGarity - I think we're saying pretty much the same thing and I would agree that, yes, just going ahead and organizing independent events is itself a (rather indirect) way to influence the direction of the WordPress Foundation. It is just a pity that, in the process of providing that valuable input, those brave organizers will miss out on the support of a central organization and, as you say, many will risk taking a bath. It is even sadder that many events that could have happened will not happen at all, to the detriment of WordPress.

What I am not feeling is your optimism that time and experience will resolve the gap between the foundation's current deafness and the best interests of the WordPress community - organizations that start out with such a single-minded emphasis on rules rarely become less bureaucratic over the years.

As I say, however, I am not complaining, it is what it is, we work with the reality we have and WordPress is still a wonderful part of my life.