If Paul is present specifically and only for Q&A that pertains to subject matter with which he is knowledgeable, his presence helps the ops community.
I have not seen any writings that indicate that Paul was at b&g or bofs or other portions of the conference.
i was at the B&G, having first checked with the host to find out if visitors were welcome. while my intent was to pick somebody up for dinner, i admit that i also ate and drank and socialized.
Based upon that data, I am inclined to support Paul.
The proper procedure would have been to let Merit know that he would be there to support the individual presenting the talk.
Other than that, I see no offense.
now that you know the whole story, perhaps you'll reevaluate your position. my own feeling on this is that if i'm attending a nanog in some distant city and there are ops people living/working in that city who do not have time to "attend", then i would rather that they came to the nanog social events than either (a) not see them at all, or (b) have to meet them elsewhere. however, this is not a debate about facts (which aren't in dispute), but rather manners, a social-subjective matter. what is or isn't "rudeness" varies somewhat with time, location, culture, "society's mood", and so on. lacking a "miss manners" to gauge the nanog society's "mood" in this time and place, we all have to just use our own best judgement. mine failed me, and i've already apologized for that.