Well, despite everything I've read here, I have just pushed the pay button for the San Francisco Write to Market in three weeks. Why? First, I'll go over all the why-not's you've posted. Wow, Neff is a tremendous ego and sort of a one-man-show. He can't get his own book published. You have to go to page 8 of the google search to find anything about Algonkian that's not a sock-puppet for him. You can get more info free on the internet, and there's no querying advantage from the conference.
Now, before I nay-say those concerns, let me tell you why I'm going. Sterling Lord Literistic has had my full MS for 6 months and not responded. I met their agent, Robert Guinsler at a very expensive conference (cause it was in Boston and I live in California) and when he asked for the full, I was ecstatic. But now I need to get out of my psychological slump and serious about querying. I am way beyond being a push-over for criticism, I just need to be inspired to start doing it. I have a free place to stay and the 3-day conference cost is $395. So why not.
So, about the criticisms leveled on this board, of course I will know more after the conference. But I think you're being unfair to Mr. Neff personally. I frankly don't know many editors or agents who have written a book, yet they judge books all the time - some are even good at it. (I have sat down with agents in high-powered agencies that were wet behind the ears and only look for a certain "brand".) I started to read Neff's book, and I'm liking it very much. I imagine it's too much of a political screed to get published by anyone but him, and I admire him for putting it out there. As for ego and over-pushing in the market, well yeah. But he's succeeding at doing what he apparently loves, and he's probably managed to help/inspire a few people along the way. If his classes aren't worth anything, most books aren't either. That doesn't mean that those who do believe in them shouldn't offer them. Does he accept anyone with a paycheck? Most conferences do, and he at least seems to require/request that you have a completed manuscript. Anyone who completes a book is a class act anyway, IMHO.