I got Stan's autograph on my Amazing Spider-Man #1 (2nd Volume) a few years ago at Dragoncon in Atlanta. I went through a very similar herding process. No handshakes, no pictures with him (unless you paid a fee). I was able to get his picture signing my book. I didn't get it graded because I am cheap and the comic enough was worth it. Hate to hear you had such a hard time but glad you got something signed. It is one of those things I want to be buried with.

And my best friend had a very similar experience with Lou Ferrigno our first year going to Dragoncon. Eight years later I gave him the benefit of the doubt that he had a bad day and got a signed pic. Unfortunately, he treated me just as badly. It sucks because it kind of spoils looking at the autograph. I wish I would have said something to him, but I did not want to be turned into a fine paste of human remains in front of everyone. His hand was the size of my head....

I'm surprised that no one suggested getting him to sign a copy of Batman. :D

My best bud got me an X-Men #68 signed by him waaay back in the day- it was the last issue he wrote on that title and the last issue of the old team before Giant sized #1 introduced the "New X-Men" (it was all reprints between 68-99).
He also got me Ravage 2099 #1 signed (as that was a book Stan was writing back then and it was new and oh god how I wish I'd have given my pal my minty Iron Man #1 to get signed!)

I was actually going to go to Megacon next month just to get Stan to sign my IM#1 but he's since cancelled the appearance...
Hoping he's okay and lives to 100...and that i've got my act half so together when I'm 90!

I want his autograph out of respect and the sheer fact that it would be very memorable to me, but all of the strings that go along with it kind of make me sick. I would feel like an idiot standing in a massive line and being treated like crap, and my girlfriend made a good point when she asked, "Do you really want to stand there surrounded by rich douche bags trying to make a buck?". No. I don't..... My luck, I would be, and the cool comic/Stan fans would be getting a beer somewhere else and avoiding the situation altogether.