I tend to prefer the London Tube style of logical map but I have found from personal experience the distortions can translate to a misunderstanding of the nuances of the real environment. Bank station for instance, and the actual distance above ground. I am sure the NY commmuters are going to go through this.

Also the "famous New Yorker opposition to change" (not a quote, but the sense of it) is I think really just NY exceptionalism. Everyone is opposed to change they don't initially welcome or initiate. Having change foisted on you is difficult. It evens out in time.

Like.. Go metric! C'mon already people, get over it. Paste those new units onto the speed dial, move on with your life.

The new map/diagram: https://www.mta.info/map/5256

The old map, which they're now calling the "geographic map": https://www.mta.info/map/36946

I like the old one better, personally. It's easy to dismiss opposition by saying "nobody likes change," but that's just ad hominem. If you're going to argue in favor of something, make an argument in favor of it and don't just attack people for "hating change."

While there's certainly an argument for keeping a geographic map, the new map is loads clearer at a glance on connections and peak/exceptional route changes. I don't see a good way to do both and have your cake and eat it too.