Nothing wrong with purchasing animals from breeders you trust via mail order, especially if you're getting fair prices. Reptile shows are always a crap shoot as far as avaliblity. Somtimes you get lucky, and sometimes you just missed a great snake at a great price.

Things I like about purchasing at shows:
-I meet the breeder and can ask questions
-I meet the snake and hold it in my own hands
-I don't pay shipping, of course, with the price of gas...
-I transport my BP instead of FedEx

Can you hold off any mail order pick ups until after the shows? That way you can filling anything you weren't able to get in person.