I rode that last PM eastbound short turn (around 18:30) every day for a couple of months—bus pulls in @ Hicksville with about 4-5 riders on board, one or two get off, then a couple get on. Especially considering that that bus was often VERY late and deadheads from Plainview to somewhere, that trip is very likely to be eliminated...
The best service pattern for this area is the current service pattern. Any change will be costly both in terms of ridership/convenience and money for Veolia (since they may end up adding more buses than they remove to ensure reliability)
If they MUST change, then do this:
-N79 from Hempstead to RFM to Hicksville (don't extend the N43)
-N49 rerouted/extended to Whitman
-N78 discontinued/no alternatives
-Cut N24 East Meadow midday service
I would presume yes, since he was at the Community Meeting and rode the shuttle bus.