The scheduling six months in advance for your random 7/12 date happened back on January 12 (ie 6 months prior to that date)... Kearsarge pass permits are just selling out pretty much immediately due to interest in Whitney as a multi day, JMT from other starting points, and Rae Lakes Loop from the East Side - not to mention any/all other trips originating there.
As others mentioned the 'walk up' is now 2 weeks ahead
on the Monday reservable rather than day before walk in (and will likely go more or less immediately for the popular trailheads especially on weekends due to hugely increased demand). Actually it looks like this year they are doing a 2 week daily rolling release of the 'walk up' permits that are now short term reservable (top of this page:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5356869) compared to the Monday releases they did last year. I REALLY LIKE THIS - as the Monday release thingie was tough to remember last year.
I do agree with you thought, that the non quota trailheads/permits need some work to be obtainable online.
=)Tif
