it seems that your expectations where a bit high. from AMs perspective, conferences have two main goals, besides drinking as much free beer as possible:
- getting new affiliates
- improving relations with mid-high/high level affiliates.
to spend half an hour discussing how to get few more ftds from someone they are already work there just doesn't fit there. that's the reason i never go to those. i'm sure i have much better chances to get what i need when the person on the other side is in his "boring' office in front of his laptop, than when he is trying to win the visit card race.