I don't feel bad at all, and in computer science systems conferences, there's usually a mix of people from industry and academia. (Both attending and even on th

I don't feel bad at all, and in computer science systems conferences, there's usually a mix of people from industry and academia. (Both attending and even on the program committee.) I think a good mix is healthy for such conferences. Personally, I do both research and development, and I want to be able to publish the research I do.