[mikestew]

What you used to get (so you have a basis of comparison): 1. Attend the sessions well before the videos come out. 2. Q&A after a session. 3. The only way to see the keynote. 4. Cheap jacket (backpacks, too, as I recall).

What you get now: 1. Session vids come out same day or very soon after. 2. No more Q&A. 3. Keynote is live streamed. 4. Same cheap jacket, just a different number (representing the year) on the back.

What you've always had, and will continue to get: 1. Access to the labs. Good if you have a problem that can't be answered in any other manner. 2. Networking with other devs over lunch and after-conference events.

If you don't need the labs, and aren't going to be all that social, save yourself $1600.

(EDIT: don't know who's downvoting you for asking a reasonable question. Have an upvote to offset it.)

[arrrg]

Seems pretty simple, actually. Apple has stripped away anything away that might not be the best incentive to go to WWDC (both from your perspective as well as the perspective of Apple who only have limited spaces). The talks and keynote should never be a reason to go there since we have the technology to spread that to everyone without any loss in the process. Also, no silly valuable presents to reward participating for no reason in particular.

So only go if you have substantial and important questions to ask to help you solve some problem – and, as always (and unavoidably) with any conference, for networking. The cost is there to further encourage you not to waste that opportunity.