I agree with you. I live in a rural area where there are (or were before they were converted to hike/bike trails) rail lines everywhere, and you could go from village to town to big city easily, all run by private enterprise. The massive interstate highway system (taxpayer funded) and punitive taxes and regulations built up auto and truck transport and destroyed railroads. When you ride on public transit, you can read, work, or even doze off, so the time is not wasted.
As for those who complain about walking a few blocks to a station, the lack of walking is a big factor in the epidemic of obesity which afflicts the country, leading to unnecessary morbidity and mortality.
Wonderful points.
Yeah, if rail was so nonviable, what about Vanderbilt, etc., etc., who made zillions running railroads?
Your point about walking to the train station is especially good.