But for reasons as disparate as preservation and exploitation for money, I’m quite sure those days are over?
I don't know, to be honest. Booking in advance has its perks if it allows you to avoid wasting hours standing in line.
I think they also introduced a max occupancy/affluency per hour for safety and security reasons. Since the pandemics, I guess this has increased. And booking in advance is supposed to eliminate people selling fake tickets outside the premises.
Last time I was in Rome was the week before Christmas 5 years ago and we didn't go to the main attractions as we all had seen them. My husband is a Roman history buff and narrated what we were seeing to me and my mother. I only insisted to go to see Caravaggio's painting at San Luigi dei Francesi Church and the Ecstasy of Saint Theresa by Bernini in the Cornaro Chapel.
