I have been suffering with a slipped disc for a few months so decided when needing to travel to pay 1st class. Imagine my surprise* when I get on and find all 1st class (not just the rear coach) seats taken by people with standard tickets. I ended up having to ask for a less able to stand seat...
As many have said, this is a direct result of a move to driver only operated trains and less of the promised 'mobile' revenue protection/assistance
It always was a false economy. Makes the network less accessible and also less safe (for example violence against women on the rail network is up...