I've been to the Houston one several times. It used to be at Fitzgerald's, then a crummy hotel. I went a couple of years ago and was shocked at how enormous it has become. I liked it better when it was 100 games and 50 people cramped in a small room.
Chicago Expo is an absolute dud unless you want to meet industry people that haven't been relevant in 20 years. (and a lot of them have died) Nasty, dirty, cold. Never again.
The loud music was such a problem at the Dallas show that I quit going. The man that runs it refuses to compromise. Better show than Chicago, though. The stereotype that everyone in Dallas feels compelled to be flashy with money is absolutely true.
Frankly, I don't particularly care for conventions in general. There's a line for anything interesting and the oddball games usually break. I have zero interest in socializing with other collectors besides the few I've been friends with for years, and I can see or talk to them any time without competing with noise.