yo White Shimmer: I hear your feelings and understand COMPLETELY. Ignore the snarky B.S. from some here, it comes with the territory. If you hike long enough, you will meet some hikers on the AT that like to use their "Moses" voice to lecture others from their AT-Moral-Highground. I belong to my local Florida Trail Chapter, and spend time out working on the FT, and if I want to bitch about the AT when I'm up there, I'll bitch about the AT. When I was in the Army, us G.I.'s knew a happy G.I. is bitchin' about something.
Roll with it, use ear plugs as needed. But Tipi Walter's advice is good advice, try getting out in the winter, or hittin' trails he knows in areas off the beaten path.
I've hiked that HF to Waynesboro section you mentioned before, and loved it, and all I can say is you were in the Shenandoah Nat. Park and that section does tend to be busier with day hikers and section hikers most of the year. Yep, with more movies and books about the trail, there will be more rush to the outdoors from those wishing to escape their metal coffins stuck on the big city freeway rush hours. March-May from Springer to Damascus is the AT NoBo highway rush hour.
After you get out on the AT enough in different seasons and months, you'll get an idea where and when to go to avoid the mob(s). Staying away from shelters will also help you avoid the traffic. You're lucky you got to do that hike with your sons.
I missed that experience with my kid, he's grown up with family and kids now and can't ever go hiking.
have fun hiking!