I gave up car camping years ago. These days I only backpack. What you said about preservation is exactly right. They are prioritizing preservation over hiker and camper experience. That's my whole gripe with their method of operations. I don't buy the argument that hikers and backpackers are the greatest threat to the wilderness, it's clearly development. I also don't buy the argument that there is a positive correlation between the number of visitors that a trail can handle and the budget for the forest service. I think the forest service spends more on enforcement than they do on managing trails.