This is interesting to read.
Back in 1992 I called my local Ticketmaster (Providence) when tickets went onsale for the Outside Broadcast. My local access number was completely busy, but I got the idea to call Maine. I got right through, and got front row seats for the second show. I used that tactic for every tour up through Vertigo. (As I recall, I got seats by calling Minnesota that time.)
For the Vertigo tour, when the U2.com cock-up happened and Ticketmaster was calling U2.com members asking what seats they wanted, I actually got called several times and wound up with a whole bunch of extra tickets, which I sold at face value or gave away.
For 360, everything changed, and the only way I've gotten tickets is through the fan club. (Granted, I haven't tried that hard.)
The Internet makes it less fun now...