Cedar Point (CP) lets onsite hotel guests get into the park 30 minutes early. Doesn't seem like much, but that head start is a huge advantage for getting on the big rides. At 11am, they distribute freeway stamps, one for each hand. They stamp the back of your hand, you come back at the time on the stamp, and they cancel it with a black stamp. Wait time is about 15 minutes.
The Qbot system at SF is ok, but you have to walk up to each ride, get a Qbot time, then come back later. So it would probably only work for a few rides.
Yes, USF has the best thing going.
The only other way to beat the crowd, is to be at the gate 1 hour before the park opens, so you're first into the park.