I'm really am in two minds about this. We've only missed IT a couple of times since we joined last Sept. apart from hols, and it certainly seems to be true that those who do STAY for it loose the most.
We have a really great Consultant, who really does try to help, and uses text and e-mails regularly to spur us on, as well as setting up a Facebook page just for our Group, to help us to help each other between meetings, report local bargains etc etc.
BUT we are such a HUGE Group - over 60 at times - and we follow on from a well supported earlier Group, so I don't know how she does it! Obviously it takes AGES to get round everybody, and it often seems that the 'naughty ones' get the most attention! Even worse, we split into two competing teams and get points for our team for each pound lost, when we reach a mini target eg sticker or certificate, whether we've tried out a new (to us) SW friendly recipe, bought a countdown that week etc etc. As we don't always sit in the same places each week there is no sense of 'team spirit' and I find it totally pointless, but it is supposed to encourage the quieter ones to speak up. Being a bit of a loud mouth anyway, it doesn't help me!
BUT, on the plus side, we do have frequent taster evenings, which are remarkably well supported food wise. Not everyone has time to actually cook, although many if not most do, and if you can't, we're asked to bring something bought like a punnet of strawberries or other fruit, a prepared salad - SW friendly of course - even a diet drink, so the tables are usually GROANING with goodies! My only gripe here is that we go through each item with the person that made it giving details of the recipe, whilst we're all sitting there DROOLING, only to find that some have not LABELLED their plates - I've had some of the oddest combinations of flavours imaginable! I really do feel sorry for those who don't do this regularly, or even at all I've read, it is such a valuable experience, even if only to find out whether you love or hate the new free Quorn Cocktail Sausages, if Kellog's Crunchy Oatbakes are for you, or if you like the latest Alpen bars.
All in all, I think that you have to put yourself in the right frame of mind, be determined that you WILL learn something from IT - it certainly gets better when you get to know everyone - and enjoy it!