Many people in the audience had become attracted to the idea of obtaining a companion spirit.
Blinky and the Eye of Providence had attracted a lot of mech designers. The ones portrayed in the archival footage had a lot of appeal for mech pilots.
The mechers and associates who attended this conference were highly successful because they constantly worked to bolster their advantages. They were highly competitive in nature and did not want to miss out on a potential benefit that could put them leagues ahead of their immediate rivals!
Everyone understood that red humanity was about to undergo drastic changes. A lot of the old rules would soon be thrown out of the window. Those that did not move quickly enough might get left behind forever!