I don't believe the naysayers are simply trolls. I have commented on a previous diatribe--which may have been troll-ish--about the exorbitant cost of the compass system and the fractional amount it will recoup from fare evasion. Considering they marketed the compass as a tool to combat fare evasion, don't you think it is slightly fishy, ie. who's wallet got thicker from this? They could've paid REAL employees big bucks--fuelling the economy--to do the same job and spent far less. I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you.

Just because the stupid gates are in use does not mean tax payers stopped paying overpaid transit pigs to patrol the trains. Those assholes are still scanning your card to check for valid fare. Your original post is not very intelligent.

Most people are stupid---the IQ for policy making is prob. around 130+, so most people are well below that. So, if a large number of people ever approve of something, be very worried that it's a stupid plan.

Compass is a "solution in search of a problem." And if you think they'll give up fare checks, you are silly. They've even bought the transit police mobile fare-checker things, so you'll have to scan your pass for some meathead. After all, they're never going to close the disability gates---so the whole thing is stupid.

The $6 card people whine about is refundable.

People have a genuine gripe.
Compass has been a massive and graphic exorcise in arrogance, ineptitude, and self entitled non-accountability by the Translink Board. I think an overwhelming subliminal reaction many transit users are experiencing here is based on the idea of having this expensive technical senselessness shoved in their face on a daily basis without any way to shove back.
To see a decent example of how a responsible scenario could play out with our transit system, look to the city of Wuhan, China. They have created a license built version of Bombardier's Sky Train, essentially identical in every detail to ours, except the familiar ticket machine, which is scripted in Mandarin. The trains even make the same melodious tune as Vancouver's when they accelerate away from the station.

How do you enter the platforms?

Paper tickets slotted into turnstile wickets.

Certainly old fashioned technology, but one that's inexpensive, robust, easy and cheap to maintain, and has DECADES of proven success in transit and other paid entry system around the entire planet. THE ENTIRE PLANET.

Those that may be labeled as trolls, whiners, whatever derogatory....do if fact have a legitimate beef.

In view of places like City of Wuhan who can run the show with reasonable accountability and a sense of balance and simplicity where possible, there is in fact a building frustration that taxpayers and transits users have absolutely no mechanism with which to grab the Translink Board by their collective ears and shake some common sense into them.
.....Does that come across as trollish...?

Gross. You must work for the government. Now excuse me while I steal my money back from you by not buying a ticket.