There is also anecdotal evidence that rope drop is just as effective as ever and that was my experience in August. I guess it's a matter of what you choose to believe. The tough part is identifying posters who share your approach to touring the parks.
Maybe it would help if you could locate some of Josh's posts where he does rope drop at a park and logs his moves and provides pictures. They generally reinforce the rope drop advantage
I also wonder what you are worried about. That you might end up doing a couple of rides less than you have on previous trips? If you are accustomed to doing several rides multiple times in one day, you might have more trouble doing that at a busy time. Otherwise, it seems that if you visit on a less busy day, follow a good plan, and make effective use of your FPs you should be able to do what you want.