Neil Williams wrote:
They're also of poor quality, or seem so. I don't believe they will
last.

I forgot to add that. Yes, their ability to read Oyster cards is
shocking. On the H&C, Circle, Met exit, the two barriers nearest the
gate (i.e. nearest the new ticket office) were rejecting the majority
of Oyster cards on the first week - effectively putting them out of
use. I now keep to the right, but you can hear the 'alarms' going off
all the time!

I have once or twice done it by accident when my ticket
didn't, for whatever reason, activate the barrier correctly, such as a
damaged magstripe, or where the person in front's ticket didn't work
properly but mine (inadvertently) let both through.

Indeed. On the old barriers, you often do get caught though. On the new
ones, it's not going to be a problem. Perhaps that's intentional then;
to aid the flow - but allowing people to take advantage of it. Word
will get around, you wait.

I should possibly try to double up intentionally (I'll still have a
valid ticket if stopped) as an experiment. Maybe we all should!!

a 20 quid penalty every couple of weeks was
cheaper than a season ticket. It was even more "favourable" when the
PF used to be a tenner.

Even after the £20 introduction last year, a gripper 'caught' a guy in
a suit that had £20 in his hand and gave it over before the inspector
said a word. He'd clearly worked out that it was cheaper than a ticket
every day. Sadly, he's right to think it.

Jonathan