Why is it so difficult to get Phish tickets?

First, A brief bio.

I have been to 30 Phish shows. To some that is way too many times to see a band, but to others, that number is exceedingly pathetic. My first show was 12/5/95 at the Mullins Center in Amherst, MA, and my second show was the famed 12/31/95 MSG...a beast (unfortunately, at the time, I was unaware of how sick a show it was, and some may argue that 12/30/95 was better). I spent a great deal of time becoming aquainted with Wilson, and the Lizards, and Harpua, and Col. Forbin, and LLamas, and Guyute, and new that I would never get out of that maze...I continued to see the band through college and well into my professional career when I had the time up to the "end" in '04.

I figured the hiatus would come and go and had a feeling that Phish would not end their career at Coventry. I enjoyed going to a show, begging for a ticket, and succeeding (usually at face- value); I enjoyed interacting with the phans and watching barefoot, flower-skirted goddesses dancing freely; but most of all, I enjoyed the music. It filled (and still does) me with life and energy, and it made me aware of the vast opportunities in life if I were to simply pay attention. It wasn't about getting wasted although I was guilty of that on several occasions; It was about love and being alive. As a cross-country and track and field runner, Run Like an Antelope was my mantra and gave me an unfair advantage over my competitors. It was my performance enhancer, and I would gladly admit to it before any judge.

Listen:

Those feelings haven't changed, but getting tickets to see this band so far has been near impossible of late. Some clarification: The tickets I attempted to buy were for Hampton, Red Rocks, and Fenway. On all occasions, I was blanked by the pre-order, and attempting to purchase tickets on-line was a basic waste of my time as I didn't even come close to getting to a screen that would enable me to purchase tix (even with high speed internet).

I know that these shows would draw huge audiences, and the prospect of getting the tickets was bleak. I also know that this hysteria is due to a near five year drought.

My point is this...I have been beaten. Perhaps I am too old (32) to put up with this...

I know what I must do but am somewhat wary of what could go wrong. I must go to these shows sans ticket and beg like I never had before.

This is not a plea for your extra, but an observation. Is anyone else out there going through this as well?