Jeff, I have gone to CES almost every year for the last 20 years. I go for 4 days and usually upon returning home, am told I missed something important.
If you are primarily interested in two channel, I would limit my visit exclusively to "THE SHOW" and the CES high end exhibits.
The Convention center is a dizzying array of everything from cell phones and watches to car audio. There is HDTV and DSS systems and home automation. It is all very interesting, but if you loose track of time it will not be possible to see all there is in high end.
As for hotels, there are several ways to think about this. If you stay in a CES hotel or within walking distance of a CES hotel, you can take the CES bus to any exhibit they sponsor.
If you are too far to walk the distance, you must grab a cab to the first exhibit and afterward catch CES busses to other locations. Another cab is often required to get back to the hotel at days end. This can cost more than a rent car, especially if you cab it to dinner.
Another way is to get a hotel you like, rent a car and drive to the first place you want to see each morning. From there either take the CES bus or rent car to the next favorite spot.
The car can be a life saver after 6:00 PM. Should the weather turn rainy, windy and cold, cabs are immediately overloaded and restaurants within walking distance of the exhibits are overloaded with reservations until 9:30 or 10:00 PM.
After doing the show every possible way, I have decided to stay downtown away from the "strip" and the traffic. I rent a car and drive in each morning where I want to begin. After the show the car is usually taken up with fellow CES friends and exhibitor, driving a few miles away from the crowds to a great restaurant where we don't have to wait all night to eat.
If I go this year (still trying to see about money), you are welcome to meet up with me and whoever I am running with that day.
