I may hit the hall at 10:30 just to avoid the huge rush and because I don't care about "we only brought 20 of this hot new widget that you can buy at a discount in a month or two at home anyways" exclusives. Seriously, we have good local game stores and the internet now, it isn't 1988 anymore. Unless I absolutely have to buy it right then and there why lug it around all day?
In past years many companies that have offered convention exclusives have also offered them through their web store that weekend too- that way all of their fans in other countries can buy goodies too. I have literally bought my Gen Con exclusives from my hotel room and had them just shipped to my house a couple of times in the past year.
I will say that I try to get whatever I need to get done in the exhibit hall done on Thursday so I never have to go back to that area again. The crowds just get more ridiculous as the con goes on, more and more cosplayers start showing up and clogging the walkways, and (Ye Gods, WHY????) more and more people start thinking that pushing a baby stroller down the aisles in the exhibit hall is a good idea.
Sadly, the dangers of fat guys wearing huge backpacks who are completely oblivious to who and what they are hitting with their backpacks never ceases.