It would be interesting to see how you feel about Vegas in five years time. At some point you will transition to being "from Vegas," it occurs most often when trying to get a drink late at night in another state. Last call? what's that? Oh, I vaguely remember that when I lived back East...

Well, "libertarian" with big and little "'l" has been co-opted by people who don't want to pay taxes, but are otherwise culturally very conservative.
There are plenty of in-state critics that dislike the spectacle as well, many who were born here and have had to live their whole lives under that spectacle. For instance, this town is very toxic for girls.
I think the big thing that this story misses is family. Families are moving and staying here now with children. That changes everything.
Vegas has oversold itself with its constant fascination with itself. This is a very narcissistic state.
I also lament what this place could be, I just have different reasons for thinking it's the way it is and probably a different vision for what it could be. Personally, I full up with strip clubs, casinos, conventions and tacky, overproduced shows.
I could use some new things, and so could the state.

I suppose it's nice that things like this get covered here in Las Vegas. But this is the sort of "anti-vegas" Vegas art scene that bores me. I neither a fan of the stereotypical Vegas "culture" or its reactionary cousin. I do support efforts to show that Vegas is more than the stereotype without using the stereotype as a talking point.