i had already visited and stayed once, but came again for orientation. however, i stayed with a 4 dig the second time instead of a firstie, and i hadn't decided whether i would accept or decline. yes you get to meet some other people, but honestly i don't remember a single person now i met at orientation. (now i didn't do the SAF/CC dinners then, which changes things a little).
is it nice, yes, but it's definitely not critical. i think i would have preferred a family dinner out and movie than the ticket to CO, but that's just personal preference. (and if i had made up my mind before the end of April)