The PCTA issued permit is not a requirement, regardless of how bad you want it to be
"Do I need a permit to walk down to the post office? No, but I better get one anyway." That is the perception the mob is trying to create and sell in the face of reality.
There are ZERO restrictions on hiking the first 700 miles of trail. Dispersed camping requires a permit in a short 25 mile section only. Use one of several camp grounds in that section, with or without a permit, and you exceed the intent and spirit of that restriction.
The PCTA issued permit is a convenience only and always has been. Getting individual permits is equivalent to the single permit.
The FS quota restricts the number of permits issued per day, NOT on when a person can start. You don't need a permit in the first 700 miles!
Read more about it: https://www.postholer.com/PCTPermits