I've found on the last 2 summer trips that we've not been able to use our PA. Admittedly, I didn't look hard for them either as on other trips. It seems we're gravitating toward parks that aren't part of the system, or the restrictions have been limiting. We did stay in Asheville NC at a PA park, but they wouldn't honor it for sites that are reserved, and we were attending a wedding, so had reserved the site. We arrived on a Thursday, so was hoping we could at least use it for 1 night, but it was a no go.
I do think if you make an effort to seek out PA parks, it will quickly and easily pay for itself.