I would never promote any perceived tax benefit to a seller, ever.  

I originally saw it as car "wrapping" and was used by record labels promoting new records/artists.My .02 here, next time you are on the highway and see a phone number on a bumper try to remember it by the time you get home. 

I know we also have Philadelphia Speaks, so would not look to set up a site with message boards etc. and would only need to get participation from people who wanted to promote local events and/or agents who wanted to list real estate.

It's so wonderful to have a place to come to where people are supportive, provide great feedback and seem to be generally interested in promoting this business as a whole.

Nope, not at all close, there is a difference between being promoted in an organization and selling your way to the top recruiting others under you, no financial sales organization allows just anyone to be their district manager.......but great sales can help you get promoted, but you're not entitled to a promotion based simply on sales. 

What I don't get is their motivation for the show and who's benefiting from this (imo) blatant promotion!

While I may be making more money, any promotion always comes with more work and less available free time to enjoy the fruits of my labor. 

Having focused on several markets around the US for my own properties, and I even focused for a long time on helping internationals buy in various markets, this particular list of markets this company is promoting makes me raise an eyebrow.

It is also entirely over-promoted and oversold by web marketing firms and document mills. 

@Ross Denman  Frankly in my 20 years or so of financing mid west rentals I have never seen anything like this.. but then again there has never been a promoter that came on in the POD cast era..