This makes me really tempted to a "Dear Tech Blogger" equivalent. The dynamics aren't quite the same, but they're close. The real killer is that in both cases

This makes me really tempted to a "Dear Tech Blogger" equivalent. The dynamics aren't quite the same, but they're close. The real killer is that in both cases the people buying blogger exposure/goodwill are experts at doing so without making their assets feel like whores. Most people won't do an obvious quid pro quo, but they'll forget everything they learned in psych class as they trade their blog notoriety for special access to invitation-only events, which they'll write about to increase their blog notoriety, which . . . you get the idea. Hey look, there's quid and quo standing together. What a coincidence. Do you think these people don't know that they'll get more - and more positive - coverage by bringing you in and giving you personal attention? Do you think that's not why they sponsor these little mini-junkets? That's their job, and they're measured by results. They weren't dazzled by your insight or wit. They saw just enough of those things to make you one jellybean in the bag they're buying for their employer. That's the extent of your "friendship" and you'll see that soon enough if you decide their presentation just wasn't inspiring enough to blog "independently" about.