+1
+1
+1 (I was just about to point that out. Likewise, it may be the stated general intention of the ATC, but on the flip side it says nothing about groups prohibited.
I got two things to add.
1) Once you go west and do some real hiking, you'll probably never want to stay in a shelter again. Good luck to you if you think shelters are the norm anywhere else besides the AT.
2) I'd rather city folk stick to day hiking and being shelter rats.