long time lurker here...
i've been going recently and its not crowded ( well, it is 6am
) so you get a chance to work on things.
I have heard that some scrimmages occur when more people are around. I've only practiced a few drills with others.
If you're in the area, its not a bad deal for ten bucks and they also don't kick you off the ice right at 7:30, they let you stay on past the scheduled time.