If you think about it the Freedom Card just needs to be read and
validated - a simple check and therefore the software is relatively
simple.

Why does a Freedom Card need to be "read and validated"? Surely, it's valid in
any event, whether pressed against a reader or not.

Admittedly, that's a fundamental difference from an Oyster Card, which is only
valid once validated, and has the added complication of stored value etc. .
But, as the original questioner asked, why does a Freedom Card need to be
"validated"? What would be the consequence for a passenger who had a valid
Freedom Card but had not pressed it against the reader on entry to the bus?

Marc.