I've been to both large and small cons. My first one was actually one of the celebrate romances fun had by all.
I've been both to RT and RWA and I see what you mean by the laid back attitude of the smaller ones. You really do feel rushed at the bigger ones. I'm just a reader too I have no idea how an author keeps up with all of the with the extra demands placed on their time.
Bad Barb's been trying to get me to go to one of Lori's for years LOL