Scott Galloway post about the fact he can't go to conferences because he works in a small company.
Well Scott not sure this will make you more happy, but I share your feelings.
And I can't say I work for a small company. Indeed it's a government body. But it sucks that training and conferences are seen in our jobs as futile and totally unjustified :-(
Maybe the cost scare some managers, so they prefer to spend the money on marketing seminars.