I've flown a lot of segments in the last month. I've watched the process. A couple of observations.
1) I've not seen the first in line "pick a winner" as mentioned here.
2) I have noticed sometimes the machine beeps and we have a winner - other times it's the person searching who picks.
3) One segment out of STL - two guys started talking/grinning to each other... who did pick? A very pretty woman. Maybe perks of an otherwise low paying job.
The silliest to me was on a DFW-AUS segment. Ben Stien -- as in the TV show Winning Ben Stein's Money -- boarded... and beeped. He was searched. He was in FC -- he was very pleasant... I'm not so sure I would have been so nice. But what can you do?
For some reason I've missed being picked.. I've been in the back and up front. So far so good. Of course this means the next 10 times I will be a "winner". Ha.

------------------
TANSTAAFL - but if you work it right, FF miles comes pretty close.