A lot depends on the venue that you end up at and for the first year that is really the luck of the draw. At most places you will probably be on a different shift every day which will screw you if you want to do a workshop series.

It is some years since I have stewarded at Sidmouth so unless the rules have changed I don't understand ColK's comment about stewards being removed from full events. The only time I knew of that happening was when somebody tried to use their badge to jump the queue.

If you get a good venue it is a great way to get to meet both other folkies and performers.