I agree that lowland trout is a major fishery supporting the WDFW budget. WDFW puts a lot of effort into it because , yes it is a money maker, and WDFW does not have to deal with the tribes demanding their share as with salmon and steelhead. A no brainer for WDFW.
A major reason that searun cutt retention is not allowed in the salt is because whenever the WDFW has had a meeting to consider retention of cutts in saltwater, the only rec anglers who show up are flyfishermen who want to keep it at catch and release. I argued for many years with a friend of mine who is an avid flyfisherman of searun cutts who wanted to keep it catch release. I argued with him for retention. He had plenty of 20-50 cutt days in the salt in the South Sound. Most of the rivers and streams allow for the retention of 2 trout/day over 14 inches (cutts included). The Cowlitz has had a cutthroat planting program for many years. You are allowed 5 hatchery cutthroat/day.
We all know that WDFW wants to get out of the steelhead business altogether.