I think books about writing and large scale events where would-be writers can talk to a range of different professionals make excellent sense and should happen more often. Like you I've been astonished by the basic ignorance of so many people who want to be published but don't want to learn the most fundamental lessons that are available for free for anyone willing to listen. Or, in some cases, even to read books at all, in spite of the fact they seem to want to write one.