I tend to go to SF cons, not branded ones, because my interests are bigger than one franchise. I'm a writer, so the writing tracks of convention programming are great for me. Then there's the bar-con part, which is networking and takes place in the hotel bar or coffee bar. I've had some great conversations with editors, agents and other writers and found support for what's often a very lonely craft.
I also cosplay sometimes, and that lets me practice some of my arts that I otherwise wouldn't get much practice at -- building corsetry or wings or armor builds other skills, and being in the costume means the costume takes the attention, not me. This lets me (as a fundamentally shy and introverted person) interact with other people without feeling under strain for 12 or 14 hours a day. And it lets me walk away from my day-to-day life as an academic for a short time, and indulge in the alternate realities we all create. I've enjoyed LARP (Live Action Role Playing) and gaming tracks, as well.
Now, I say this as a woman in fandom, and a woman in SF. Cons used to have a high chance of being wrecked for me and other women by some dude with too much entitlement and fewer social skills than a brain-damaged Labrador. (Brain-damaged Labs may be over-enthusiastic, but they're usually well-intentioned and friendly.) They'd assume that costume = consent, or smiling, nodding politely, and backing away = flirting. That has improved some in the past few years, but there's still a contingent of oxygen thieves running around. They go by names like the Sad Puppies or Rabid Puppies, and have turned their lack of contact with reality into a vendetta against women, people of color, the LGBTQIA SF community and anyone who isn't in fandom strictly for the rockets and the over-blown hypermasculinity. Now they get tossed out when they get handsy or abusive, but they'll rain as much shit as they can get away with, and push limits. Pick your con by the strengths of their sexual harassment policies. If a con doesn't have one, don't give them your money.
Go with friends, if possible. Have backup. Know your limits, and retreat to the bar or a quiet room if you get overwhelmed. Stay hydrated and eat regularly. Stay at the hotel if possible - evening room parties are one of the attractions, and there will be both quiet and raucous ones. Read and follow the policies, and be an ally for others. I personally prefer the smaller, regional cons -- WorldCon or SDComicCon are like Disneyland, too much to see and do in too short a time. And as I said, I'm not as big a fan of the branded cons.
But they are fun, and if you like being with a lot of like-minded people who are generally friendly, a little to a lot off the curve of normal, and have a common interest, yes, they're worth the price of admission and 2-3 nights in a hotel.
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