Rick,
You are a very nice guy.But I do not think you are thinking clearly.The annual show in Las Vegas is sacred and untouchable.That makes the mystic of the hobby and what chip collecting is all about.It's where all of this originated.The history and culture.It's a personality and charm.
You did makes some good points about spreading the shows around and I am all far that.But that's up to individual promoters.We would need alot of support from chippers to attend the shows to keep it going.I hope that could happen. I know I would do my part.But for the big show.There is an old saying"There is no place like home"
Rick once a year excursion to Vegas is looked forward to by most chippers.If it were somewhere else I believe you would have half the turnout!