I think Colin's point, with which I agree, is that there are a number of
types of journey that are more expensive using Oyster.

That does indeed seem to be one point he has made and I totally agree too.
It is not the whole argument though, which seems to revolve around his
occasionally needing to make a journey that is cheaper with Oyster Pre-Pay
than with cash, and the difference being due to increase substantially in
the New Year.

However, whenever anyone mentions this, we seem to be dubbed "the
anti-Oyster brigade" by people whose knowledge of travel patterns other
than their own seems somewhat limited.

You think so? It seems to me that most people actually acknowledge this
issue and where heated discussion arises it is where the root of someones
argument is actually, and I paraphrase, "I could use Oyster but I choose not
to". Fine by me and most others I've seen contributing on here. However
when the argument is extended to what seems to be little more than "I could
use Oyster but I choose not to, but I don't want to be penalised for that
choice" then that is where a lot of people feel the argument is extremely
weak.

Personally, I am not "anti Oyster" at all - and I don't suppose Colin
is. I just wish the damn thing could actually manage to be as useful as
a daily travel card. Unfortunately it remains useless for occasional
travel on London's suburban rail network.

I totally agree, but I think we should express it differently. It is absence
of Oyster that is the issue. Oyster itself is excellent as far as it goes,
and it has to start somewhere.