It's a really interesting point. I think if I commuted daily on the rapid transit lines, I would find it boring. Compared with NYC, it's much smaller system, so you'd be seeing the same thing over and over again. As of now, I do not go into Boston with the same regularity I once did, nor do I have the time to joyride lines for pleasure, so I would say now, I'm not bored with it. I would say I'm definitely not bored with the commuter rail system, just came back from a very nice, head clearing trip to Wickford Jct. And I agree with Backshophoss's comments about the commuter rail being in transition. And with everything, we're to some degree taking things for granted. People I'm sure took steam for granted (think of the movies where real trains were used in wrecks, even one as late as 1960, Ring of Fire, destroyed an operable steam locomotive and vintage passenger coaches
http://www.brian894x4.com/RingofFire.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) and I'm sure people said the same thing about first generation diesels as well. And there's some new service and stations (the Cape, Wickford Jct, Wachusett, Assembly Square, the new Government Center) as well as things down the road. But I think with me, I was 4 years old when the EL closed and Arborway service was discontinued, obviously wasn't born for A line service or the Charlestown EL) so I don't have those things to compare it with, but I can imagine I would have enjoyed those.
I think it would be great if the T ran vintage equipment, and at one point, they did redo the PCC at Boylston for excursions and have had railfan excursioins. I would imagine it's a combination of 1.) management 2.) insurance higher and 3.) overall budget. I can imagine if the T wanted to sink some dough into let's say restoring the two trolleys at Boylston (and got permission of the SSTM) to run excursions. I can also imagine if certain news organisations in the area got wind of that, they'd be up in arms about the "pork." And maybe they'd have a point too, especially with the kind of debt and expenses the T has.