Are You Better off Attending a Conference or Writing?

This past weekend was "Thrillerfest" or the ITW Thriller Writer's Conference in NYC. I used to attend the conference every year, until I won my award and realized that I would be better off writing instead of spending four days and four nights away from my writing studio. It's nothing against ITW. Obviously, they've been very good to me and continue to be. But here's what I accomplished instead of attending the shindig.