What are the realistic chances of an H1B lottery this year?

[didingo 0]

According to a USCIS press release from March 15, 2013, there is a good chance of an H1B lottery this year, which will occur if more than 65,000 applications are recieved between April 1 and April 5, 2013.

What do you think the realistic chances of that happening are? Speculations have so far suggested the cap would be met much earlier than last year, though perhaps not as early as in the first 5 days. What do you really think?

If there is indeed a lottery, is the process entirely randomized, i.e. people with PhDs get the same treatment as people working for so-called Indian "desi consultancies" and such? Of course I assume that is the case, just asking.

[Boiler 45,913]

With the level of unemployment and job shortages I would have thought it unlikely.

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

With the level of unemployment and job shortages I would have thought it unlikely.

You would think that, but the government doesn't care.