Very true, of course.
Yes, indeed. It's easy to avoid the Herd season, yet the trail is still impacted. Trash from "trail magic" and water caches lingers after the Herd has passed. The Anderson's are fine people I'm sure, I just wish they'd clean up their caches once in a while. While out hiking on the PCT our dog will run up with a happy "look what I found" expression on her face carrying a hunk of TP with a turd attached. Nice.As another data point, this year I started May 14, there were some nights I camped alone, and others where I camped with a half-dozen others, most of whom were Trail Family anyway. Certain places seemed for form herds, like Idy or Wrightwood, but then those quickly dispersed.
Hike the empty miles between decent trail towns and you will see a very different crowd as you go.
It's still a great and beautiful trail. There are really nice folks hiking it. That's a good thing. John Muir wanted us out there getting the good tidings.
And for those who want solitude California and the west offers trails and mountains galore.