We usually go to SHOT every other year - that's often enough to satisfy my curiousity about what's new, though I wouldn't mind seeing friends who attend every year. Seems the older I get, the less tolorance I have for crowds, and Lord knows, SHOT attracts a pretty large crowd (thankfully). It's worth the drive to be able to visit with reps from PTG, Krieger, Bartlein, Grizzly, etc.
I lived in Vegas over the winter of '73-'74, when the pop. was only about 230,000 - actually, it was a pretty decent little city back then - easy to get around in, people knew each other, etc. I much prefer the 'old' Vegas, but ya can't go back....