The actual presentations are usually the least important part of a conference. Most conferences would be better if you could cancel 80% of the program but still

The actual presentations are usually the least important part of a conference. Most conferences would be better if you could cancel 80% of the program but still convince the same people to attend (and their employers to pay). Then there would be more time for informal discussions and ad hoc work, which often lead to new ideas and new collaborations.