This is a common way people use to rationalise it. But how do you think decisions are made when there is group of people where each one has a part to play to execute a policy? The word you are looking for is a meeting. People meet, discuss, share concerns and agree plan. At this level, this is not something you can do over a Zoom call as you don't know who may be in the room and there are other security risks to consider. So they organise ComicCon, in a semi-open fashion. After all, what pleb like me and you can do about it?
Even if you write online, like I do, you can see I am getting dismissed, often ridiculed and often ad hominem follow as well.
They can totally do it and there is nothing people can do about it, so they don't even have to hide that much.