Maybe I got lucky, but with my name on enough VIP lists I paid for maybe 3 drinks at SXSWi last year in total, and I was fairly plastered most evenings. I quickly found that 'limiting' myself to one drink per bar didn't help when bouncing between 12 bars a night. Ouch. I didn't touch alcohol for 45 days after SXSW.

Oh good, here's "beer guy" talking about swill.

All of my free beers where either Open Bar selection or Draft Shiner. I guess my experience falls outside of 'most'.