My understanding is that the whole convention is now basically 80% waiting in line, 10% wading through crowds, and 10% viewing actual content (provided you got in line early enough). I'm not sure how it is the whole thing sells out faster and faster every year. It's a shame though, because a lot of the smaller panels usually sound interesting but it'd be too much hassle to deal with all the other bullshit now that Hollywood has completely co-opted the event. I saw all the coverage on G4 and it looked awful.....just too many people in too small a space.
Looking at the website they are refusing to mail out badges as well -- so that's one more line you get to wait in.

My advice would be to set your sights on another convention that hasn't so clearly outgrown its exoskeleton -- E3, Dragoncon, PAX, BlizzCon, etc.