I have to chime in here because it's actually quite entertaining. First and foremost, with regards to off board payment, it's simple and quick. As someone who works for transit and saw everything first hand, easily the biggest issue is people waiting to see a bus before they get their ticket. Honestly, if a bus pulls up and you're not ready and the bus is, doors should close and you have to wait for the next bus.
Next, in regards to personal responisibility, again, from experience. Most people who complain about service reliability DO NOT allot themselves enough time. There is a lot the MTA is at fault for with regards to service delays but a lot of people don't allow proper travel time. This is NYC, a train gets held up for 10-20 seconds per stop for holding doors or whatever, that train will be late. For the example of someone living 15 mins away from their job, in Nyc, a lot of people will leave 20 mins to get to work. Maybe they make it 80% of the time, but how about you get down stairs and you get on the same train and now there is a sick customer? It doesn't change the further away you live, most people will plan their trip with them arriving 1 min before clocking in, that is what is wrong with the people and their lack of responsibility, and that is more the norm than anything else.