I'm unlikely to ever get to take part in these, but I'm still glad to see them again - felt a bit dry and dead after the Incursion events died down.
Having said that as glad as I am to see this I've heard a (unconfirmed AFAIK) claim that all the event actors fly Machariels (to be expected) pimped with officer/dead space gear... (

)
If that's the case... CCP, wtf were you thinking? Don't fly pimped machs around, that will draw even bigger groups of null-bear folks and blooby low-sec people that won't be there for the events (they won't give a shit) they will be there to get the fat loot and the kill-board padding. Rich and arrogant people don't need more isk and ego-boosting. Use T2 named/T1 instead, please.
Events should be about the events themselves, not another Farming Welfare initiative.