The biggest problem with the "talk industry", if you can call it that, is the talk selection process. You may have the best talk in the world, but if your proposal doesn't get approved, you ain't giving the talk, no matter what.

The author talks down on giving "tool talks". I agree, those are the most boring talks to listen to, but at the same time, "tool talks" are pretty much the only way to get a speaking slot these days. Those kinds of talks are easy to create a coherent proposal. The more interesting out of the ordinary talks are hard to propose.