Sooooo, just to double check, can we still go into the hotel lobby if we don't have a badge? I wasn't planning on buying a badge since all of the activities I'm attending are outside the con and last year I didn't go to any panels/gameroom/dances/dealers hall, so it seemed like a big waste of money.
Just to fuel speculation (hehe ) even though this post is not an official answer, it is very likely you can stay in the lobby without a badge.
Even though the hotel is reserved for the convention in terms of events, that does not mean the entire room block belongs to the convention. Unaffiliated people can still reserve rooms there.
I'll be making more of an issue of this in my own post on the subject but in terms of hotel rooms...
We are coming down to the wire. I have a very LIMITED number of Doubles left, and then once they are gone you may only book Single King rooms... so... if you are planning on getting a con Hotel room, you better get your tooshy in gear!
Also, while the hotel is public property, without a con badge/a hotel room the hotel can ask you to leave if you loiter... so just be aware of that, not saying they will, just saying they can.