One reseller said it is "clearly a customer conference now." That drew agreement from two others, all three long-time, highly regarded VARs. One is sending staff members, but not attending himself. There are also bets the most attention is going to X-3, the presumed jewel in the product crown. "It's my observation that Sage is looking at every single existing customer as an X3 candidate if not immediately then over the next few year," one commented. When I responded that the Sage plan would be to have the low end on the Internet-based Sage One, he replied, that he was "not sure how that product has a prayer in the U.S."  Earlier in May, another long-time reseller noted  Sage had hired the Alexander Group to make recommendations on its margins and tier structure. The new model will reward cross selling and subscription sales, and "X3 sales volume, which they are treating by exception, like a Golden Child," he said. "Sage itself admits that by virtue of the way that their tier and rewards programs are constructed, they are encouraging their partners to engage in behaviors that Sage itself does not endorse. So, they have a real problem."