Hmm.

Some suprising comments from Steve-in-Sidmouth, in that a dancer of his calibre chooses to use 'dance time' as a measure of what the LNE is all about! I'd always considered it a much broader experience (listening, socialising etc).

As for the arithmetic - anyone who has been involved in organising an event like this knows that there are set (planned) times...

a) when the band 'finishes' for the first time
b) by which the final encore needs to have finished
c) by which the sound level needs to come right down
d) at which the sound desk is switched off
e) for last orders at the bar
f) when the bar must close
g) last public to leave venue
h) last staff to leave venue...

Somewhere in amongst that lot will be the advertised finish time.

Some of these times coincide with each other, others don't. Some are set in stone, some fuzzy.

Time will tell. I suggest any 2012 LNE-goers re-read Steve's post in 12 day's time or so, & then make their own minds up in the light of experience...