[SAGE] SAGE vs USENIX

[Josh Smith <irilyth@infersys.com>]

Around this time a year ago, I asked:

  My various employers have periodically sent me to LISA conferences, but
  for various reasons, I've maintained a SAGE and USENIX membership on my
  own nickel for a while now, and it's coming time to renew. That has led
  me to ponder the question of whether I should spend the money to renew
  my USENIX membership, or go with the SAGE-only option.

  In practice, this will probably not end up mattering very much at all
  either way, for two reasons: First, I don't feel like I really use any
  of the benefits of my USENIX membership; and second, my employer is
  likely to send me to LISA this fall, which will probably have the side
  effect of renewing (or reactivating or whatever) my USENIX membership
  anyway, if the traditional pricing structure from previous years remains
  intact.

  But, I figured I'd solicit the opinions of the list (and hopefully not
  start a flamewar in the process). If a co-worker of yours was thinking
  about joining SAGE, and paying for it themselves (to avoid the "easy to
  spend someone else's money" factor), and asked you for your advice,
  would you encourage them to join USENIX as well? Why or why not? If it
  would depend on the circumstances (e.g. "if they were a junior person,
  probably not, but if they were more senior, then definitely"), elaborate
  as needed.

I got some interesting replies, and ended up renewing both, as much out of
inertia as anything else. Well, it's that time again, so I figured I'd ask
a slightly different question: Has your answer changed in the past year?
If so, how?

As when I asked last year, I think it'd be interesting for folks to send
replies to the list, but feel free to reply to me directly if you like. If
you do, and don't want me to summarize or quote your message to the list,
let me know that. Thanks!

                                      -Josh (irilyth@infersys.com)