Let's see, I live in Wyoming and you live outside of Boston.
I've probably done a bucket-load more random camping than you.
But if you read past the first sentence, you would realize that.

I can assure you, however, that on my first cross-country trip I camped almost exclusively at developed sites.
And I suspect that most newbie tourers in 2017 would be doing the same -
maybe even more so given the perception of random violence today.

Oh, yes - speaking of safety - what about solo women tourers?
Does the decreased availability of affordable camping impact women more than men?

Just wonderin' - - -