I'm being a hater here (as is my right!), but I don't actually hate all tech-y conversations. It is interesting to learn the different waus people made things, and I find a lot of genuine artistic meaning in the pure process of making art.
But yeah, this question is, more-often-than-not, asked as a perfunctory, one size fits all, get out of jail free question.
"Was the traffic all right?" "How's the wife and kids" "What game engine is it?"
PS. I loved your Manifesto! I've been thinking about it all night. I do struggle with feeling like I should be grateful for every opportunity I'm granted, every person who deigns to play a game. I sort of feel like this manifesto is unintentionally in conversation with the part about "Gratitude for the Audience".
Sorry I couldn't make it down to ALT, I'll hopefully be in Melbourne for games week though!