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Also regarding the in-game bonus, it's my understanding that they were trying to make sure they go to current players, not eBay scalpers. Thus the reason there was no big sign, and also the reason for the questions about whether or not you play the game.
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I wound up initially asking a guy who was working the Guild Wars section who said he didn't know anything about any CoX code but directed me to that side of the booth. I asked, was given that same story about eBay resellers, and was asked a player-related question ("How do you get to the ski chalet?"). Chatted it up with one of the guys, not sure who (I'm not really in-the-know with the CoX names) then watched some gameplay.
Later, after logging in and running a mission (friggin' glowie hunt where I couldn't find the last one and it was too loud on the show floor so I couldn't hunt it audibly) I bumped into a nice guy who turned out to be Blue Steel. Showed me some cool stuff they had set up on Test for folks to try out including a bunch of the unlockable broadswords that I'd never seen in-action before (Rularuu's Bane is especially sweet!) Nice guy, and clearly someone who enjoys the "cool-factors" in the game.
Overall, I'd have to agree that their booth wasn't set up to be very visit-friendly, at least not for the older games. They were pushing Exteel & Dungeon Runners and some new game (at least new to me) Aion (that they were having players fill out a questionnaire for when they were done...I didn't play.) CoX & Tabula Rasa were present, but slotted in narrow rows that didn't really allow for casual viewing.
As for the mention of poor ventilation, I didn't experience it so much in the main hall but I went across the street to the annex in hopes of getting in on a D&D game (which, sadly, didn't happen as all the slots were filled.) That place was ridiculous! The one place that should definitely have proper air circulation is a claustrophobic-feeling room full of 3rd-day RPGers.
All-in-all, for my first PAX visit (I live in the area but usually wind up working when cons are going on) it wasn't bad. Schwag seemed a bit light to me, but then I didn't want a few dozen videogame posters for my walls. I'll probably attend next year, since it's in the neighborhood and all, but I'll focus on the D&D stuff instead of the cacophony from the videogame demos.
