Wow without having read all of this ancient thread, here are my thoughts:
There are three main parties (no pun intended) involved in the collecting on purim
1. The Institution
2. The Collectors (read bochurim)
3. The Donators
The institution does more or less whatever will make it the most money. The fact that its bochurim are not well-served by what occurs on purim seems to be believed morally compensated for by the fact that the institution serves them well the rest of the year in its own opinion. Does the means justify the end? As usual, when money is involved, yes.
The bochurim are not slave labor. Purim is supposed to be fun (I mean geshmak, fest, and toasted). You want them to spend their day collecting for you? Make it fun. Otherwise, someone else will. Or -gasp- they’ll spend the day doing good productive things. That would be the scariest option.
The donators are the trickiest to figure out. On the one hand it says kol haposhet yad nosnim lo. On the other hand, there is clearly a limit to that general rule. If someone keeps asking? If the person asking is representing a dati leumi cause? Where to draw the line is the question. As usual, things that are a problem on the systemic level, are often overlooked at the individual level in the orthodox community.
Additionally, there is much kavod involved if you have a full house of people, a line out the door, and MBD and Shwekey coming to entertain for a few minutes. It makes you feel rich and important. It’s a lot cheaper than a fancy yacht.
Bottom line: the money people give to tzedaka on Purim is significant. The transaction costs on Purim are significant as well. In a utopian world, if tzedaka be the only goal, all the money would be donated without the need for the shenanigans. However, we are not in utopia unitl either moshiach comes or (lehavdil) we have a few drinks. Then a few more. L’chaim!