Great write up, I did the Forum in 2012 and got a huge amount from it. I've "enrolled" about 10 people over the last 2 years to also do the Forum and they in turn may have also brought other people to do the Forum. The technology is powerful, it works and so does their growth mechanisms. There is nothing more powerful than a friend recommending and inviting you to use/buy a product or service that's why the Net Promoter score (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_Promoter) is such a valued metric by brands.
In addition the value you get from having your friends/colleagues/family also do the Forum increases the subsequent value you as an individual get from it as you have a common understanding, language, world-view and an environment that demands integrity, empathy, accountability and performance.
I did the Forum a few years ago in New Zealand and I know a few other people in the startup scene who have done it recently. Personally, I found the marketing side distracting for the first day of the course because I kept analysing everything (from the room layout to the viral mechanic). Then at some point during the weekend, I realised that I did this type of meta-analysing with everything in my life instead of just being present and actually engaged. From then on I got a lot out of the weekend and it was probably the main factor in me leaving my corporate job and moving to London.
In addition the value you get from having your friends/colleagues/family also do the Forum increases the subsequent value you as an individual get from it as you have a common understanding, language, world-view and an environment that demands integrity, empathy, accountability and performance.
"A rising tide lifts all boats"