My group is on the absolutely not side of it. We put in the work, do our line shifts, and all get into Hall H on Friday and Saturday. Certainly don't want that to become random where some get in, some don't. I just got back from Disneyworld and we had an absolute blast, lines didn't seem to be an issue for anyone.
I have to say I was heartened to see this on the site with regard to CCI/SE
"Rooms will not be cleared between programs. You are permitted to stay in the same room for multiple programs (with certain exceptions; if a room is to be cleared, it will be announced)."
Per John Rogers, and I paraphrase, "the purpose of this policy was to alleviate crowding in the convention center". If people were sitting in the rooms, they were not on either the exhibit floor or in the hallways of the convention center. A lottery introduces a whole new type of logistics. NYCC system was not that great, and from what I observed, increased the lines. Those that 'won' a lottery had to stand on a line outside the room to wait for it to be cleared, and there was no check to see if you were even eligible to be in the line. There was a panel I wanted to attend for which I did NOT win a lottery. I got on line early anyway. Once it started moving, there were individuals checking badges using ipads. I kept going. I'm sure my badge didn't register that I was eligible, but they let me in anyway. They didn't have a system to deal with those that weren't eligible, and I have a feeling they were a little overwhelmed at having to make the decision about who can get in and who can't. Did I take someone else's seat? I don't think so, as the room didn't completely fill up. Probably the result of people that won the lottery, but chose not to show up. If anything, I think NYCC's experience is why you should NOT do a lottery.
You can't make everyone happy. If there's a panel in HALL-H that 7000 people want to get into, 1000 people are going to be disappointed. It's supply and demand.
The plus side, for me, with SDCC's policy is the hidden gems I've discovered. There are panels I never would have sat thru if it wasn't for this policy, and that would have been my loss. I'll always remember my first hidden gem. It was the 'Sponge Bob Square Pants' Panel (2015). I only sat thru it because I was interested in the next panel. It was a RIOT!!!
So I vote...NO PANEL LOTTERY!!!