5e124423_A_Conference___Altimeter_Group__Upsides
[Use Cases] Quality Speakers and Panels [Downsides] The crowd influenced panels are hit and miss. Most panelists are not professional speakers, and quality is a crap shoot. [Upsides] 
The keynote speakers are grade A quality: Al Gore, Elon Musk, Wholefoods CEO, and others, deliver earth shaking insights.
SXSW is a Festival –Not Just A Conference | Altimeter Group
Upsides