I'm not in circumstances currently which make carrying necessary. But in the past when those circumstances existed I felt that discreet carry was better than dealing with the permit process. Just my opinion.
Guns are a big part of my life. Shooting competition, hunting, just plain fun, and self-defense. My CCW probably doesn't expose me to big brother any more than the system I have to go thru to buy guns. I don't and won't jeapordize my ability to own guns.
I've thought about that also. Here are some of my conclusions:
1) For every person that gets a CCW permit, that increases the 'political clout' of gun-owners. Here in Florida, there are 250,000 people with CCW licenses. Politicians are going to think twice before passing any legislation that negatively impacts that many constitients.
2) If they want to locate gun owners, there are numerous other ways to do it. 4473 forms, surveillance outside gun ranges, monitoring internet boards that are firearm-related, etc......
3) I look at a CCW permit as a way of me "bribing" the state so that I don't get harassed for exercising my Constitutional and unalienable rights to keep and bear arms. Once I cough up the money, they leave me alone, and I leave them alone.