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Notes -
It's possible it's a generational thing, but I remember the era of Facebook event invites where everyone seemed to come to the consensus that "RSVP maybe means no, and yes means maybe". My wife was once particularly frustrated trying to host a small social shindig more than ten years ago where a dozen people (coworkers) said yes, but none showed.
On one hand sure, but for anything even pseudo public people very quickly realised that the events weren't RSVPs, they were advertisements. Engagement was interest, not promises. This was obvious in like '07.
If you want people to show up you ask them directly. If you use a Facebook event you later confirm with people directly.
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