I know I'm an outlier, as far as geography and attachment to the group, but that does not seem like a decision that can be made by one person.
Not made by one person, I just happen to be the person leading VCF East efforts.
I would assume there is a planning team, loosely defined though it may be that would consider such options.
Correct.
It may indeed be that this presentation is too obscure to be of any general value, but I can see instances where an obscure technology and the story behind it has general implications.
Sure. Ed certainly has a compelling story. But we aim for mainstream appeal in a VCF keynote. I feel compelled to also mention that it would be fantastic to have women and minorities as speakers. Ruth Lewart gave a great VCF East talk and so did Jeri Ellsworth. More would be awesome -- for I'd like to get Margaret Hamilton, but I don't know if Mark Dean would travel from Tennessee. Keep in mind that the speakers participate on their own dime (pretty much -- we've covered a hotel room here and there.)