One of the things I don't get about some of the Alt history events is I don't really see any new info or analysis - they just repeat pieces of what experts have done and then throw in things they aren't experts in and try to link them together - or at least in the videos I have seen. If I went to a conference and the people presenting weren't experts (note I am said experts and not academics) that weren't providing new analysis on a topic, what is the point of listening to them? They just repeating others work that I can find myself and don't have enough knowledge about a subject to be worth my time. I don't go listen to the Mississippian archaeologist talk about the same pipes he has been talking about for the last 10 years because it's nothing new but at least they are an expert with decades of detailed knowledge. The only except is students. Students getting experience presenting is important and they should be supported because eventually they will be the ones presenting new cutting edge research.