I'm in the Central VA Tripoli prefecture. We were one of the co-hosts for LDRS-28 the first time it was in Potter. With LDRS34 being the third one there, the local clubs have gotten more experience and more efficient at running the event. Guess they don't need our help anymore.
I want to weigh in on the LDRS at Black Rock and the low attendance. I agree with H_Rocket about why it was lightly attended. Lack of non-launch site facilities, like hotels, restaurants, etc. go a long way. I also think the location has a lot to do with it. Living in VA, the only LDRS I've been to was in NY. I would love to get to one in Kansas, but I can't see going much further then that. I did stop in at Bong, although I didn't fly anything, we were in Wis. visiting family.
I suspect if you check the flight cards from any LDRS, about 80% - 90% would fit well under a 10,000 ft waiver. Since most flyer are at that level, going through the hardships of getting to Black Rock just isn't worth it to a lot of those fliers. I don't know the demographics of Tripoli membership, but I would suspect a majority are located east of the Mississippi. I realize that clubs have to bid on hosting LDRS, but I think an effort should be made to keep half to 2/3 of the LDRS events east of the Mississippi where most of the membership is. I wouldn't mind seeing an LDRS in the Carolina's, Florida, Ohio, or Indiana, and of course more in Potter. I would love to have my club host one, but we fly on farm field that are not available in the summer.