Trust me, by the time you have nudged past enough people on the switchbacks(think of it like a Saturday at Disneyland when you keep meeting the same people as the line doubles back on itself, snaking towards the turnstyle) yer gonna wish that you were alone!
I have never been on a more social, chatty trail in my life (pulling my hat lower over the eyes helped cut down on the "SO! Where are YOU from?"), so if you were looking for any solitude, fogeddaboudit!
Sounds more like the Half Dome cables than anywhere on the Main Whitney Trail (including the switchbacks). I always find it interesting to meet new people who have common interests (in this case hiking up Whitney). How often does that opportunity present itself? For most, maybe once or twice in their life, unless they live locally and are in the mountains all the time. Personally, I'm more social and "chatty" (some have said like a 10-year-old) on othe Whitney trail because I'm in a place I love and in my element.
CaT
