One thing no one mentions - regards senior discount. We all understand the argument about paying all our lives in taxes which support NPS. Let's leave that for a moment ...
Most seniors live on fixed income, some still pay taxes, and most have a lot more time for camping in parks. If seniors have discounts, seniors will stay more often and longer in parks, spending the recreation part of their budget. So, basically, if you spend more nights, you spend more money and use less services per day over a longer period. Seniors buy food in the park, fuel in the park ... and some other services when available -boat launch fee, for example. In the long run, I bet seniors per pay much more into the NPS system annually than, say a family with three kids on vacation for a week or two. And, that family will use more services - that's not a complaint, just a factor to consider.
Seniors have earned a discount, and ultimately probably pay more support into the parks overall, then without a discount. I do know Genie and I spend more time in NPS than any other camping areas, and a part of that decision comes from the possibility of a discount for each camp night.
Sure, we can stay outside park, with hookups, and pool, and games for a similar amount as 'regular fees', but we don't. We stay in the parks because they are the parks, and the GC most often are a bit more space, a bit more private, and certainly much more beautiful than say the average private park, even tho most NPS have no hookups.
Each type of CG - private or public - has its place in all our camp-lives, but the parks are the parks, and the protection of these wilderness and watershed areas is more important than any other NPS purpose.
