HMM, I guess I got away with something? Maybe every venue or security person at the front door is different.
I was at San Antonio an walked in with my DSLR with standard and telephoto lens.
There was a guy a couple rows in front of me with a lens about a foot long, snapping away.
I go to the San Antonio show every year, and we've always walked in with a regular DSLR camera, bigger than a little point and shoot, no problems.
I have been to the Berry Center in Houston for DCI events, and they didn't allow any cameras, period.