David M, I'd seen that video and really enjoyed it :-) It really captures the magic of Burning Man! I also agree with your point that BMorg can't be faulted for the great increases in interest for this event over the years. With all of the great videos and endless photos available online for BM the limits of attendance in accordance with the BLM contract were eventually going to be reached. Actually last years BM population at over 54,000 exceeded for the first time the BLM permited amount of 50,000, which got BMorg in trouble for that. So this year they are being monitered more closely to keep to the contracted numbers. BMorg is trying to get the population numbers allowed to be up to 70,000 by 2016 but I haven't heard or read about where that is going.
Mdskibum, I also agree with your observations too. I don't have much faith at all that the upcoming Step program proposed by BM will solve much of the problems this lottery has created. If many of the theme camps bail because they can't get their people to the event its really going to alter the atmosphere and essence of what BM has been about. The artist and creative core people and camps plan and work for a great deal of time to get their ambitions realized in time for each years event. With no tickets for them, and doubtful prospects to get some, many of these central people are talking about canceling even going. I'm still looking for a ticket through differant channels but if the community gets drastically altered by this ticket fiasco I'm not really sure I want to even go myself.