It’s an advantage. Say I live in Germany or speak many languages, I can book more rooms or find better places. Or if I have endless time as a lazy student I can research and book places.
See it or not, it’s an advantage that some might not be able to do. So it just levels the field.
I agree if you block book, but simple planning seems to be part of it to me.
Not that I'd really know having not entered such an event.