I was not involved in the lottery with which we won our permit, but we did win on the first attempt. The lottery is weighted so that the longer the applicant goes without winning, the great his chances become each year.
I’m not attempting to defend the present system. Maybe it could be done better. Camping space is limited on the River, so access has to limited using some methodology.
I also don’t understand Question 38. No one in our group of twelve had ever rafted the Grand Canyon before, although two of the participants did have professional guide credentials. We used an outfitter in Flagstaff for the equipment and food.