I would venture to say that the time savings of no longer checking tickets at the gate outweighs the relatively few who get confused. They would even try this at a smaller station like Hartford, CT, where 100+ passengers are trying to board two Amfleet cars when it's probably already running late. People would be hurrying in with their luggage and would be stopped abruptly by the conductor and would have to fish in their bag or on the often-buggy Amtrak app for their ticket. This cost precious minutes.
I think the problem at the root of this issue is that American society is so far from revolving around trains like it was only a few decades ago. Overseas it is very common for one to take the train to get somewhere efficiently, on time, comfortably, and relatively inexpensively. However, here in the United States, we have a very car-centric culture, which is why many don't know how to use public transportation. I do think if we had the "Push to Open" buttons (which I myself have never understood the need for), society would be used to them and would know exactly what to do. It's not the American people, it's the American society.
I think the problem at the root of this issue is that American society is so far from revolving around trains like it was only a few decades ago. Overseas it is very common for one to take the train to get somewhere efficiently, on time, comfortably, and relatively inexpensively. However, here in the United States, we have a very car-centric culture, which is why many don't know how to use public transportation. I do think if we had the "Push to Open" buttons (which I myself have never understood the need for), society would be used to them and would know exactly what to do. It's not the American people, it's the American society.