I found and still find online meetings or conferences helpful in some cases: it keeps the participants from talking at cross-purposes, from interrupting each other. The small rounds can be arranged in break-out rooms. For me, it is pleasant not to have to go directly among the people. The possibility to send comments directly to the other participants in the chat is another level of communication that is not available live. However, it really depends on how well the hosts prepare such a meeting, how much money they spend on the technology and how fit the administrators are...