I don't disagree, but I think single leg pricing is already going to be a major help.
It'll help reduce the number of fares but it'll result in large fares increases for Off Peak travel which is why we need to be very wary.
Consider Stevenage - London Terminals. Current fares are:
Anytime Day Single £15.10
Anytime Day Return £22.70
Off Peak Day Return £17.90 (no evening restrictions)
Off Peak Return £28.90 (short evening restrictions)
There aren't any Off Peak Day or Off Peak Singles
I suspect single leg fares would be something like:
Peak £11.40
Off Peak £9.20 (I doubt it'll be half the Off Peak Day Return as the TOC will want to make up a bit of the premium they charge for the Off Peak Return)
Anyone travelling there and back in the peaks will be ok. They'll pay the same as they do now.
Anyone travelling out and back at Off Peak times would pay a bit more
Anyone travelling out after the morning peak but returning in the evening peak will pay significantly more.
Many off peak passengers from my local station use Network Railcards which have a £13 minimum fare. Will the minimum fare be reduced if we get single leg pricing - I very much doubt it, rendering the railcard useless and significantly increasing the cost of travel.
Single leg pricing sounds great, it will simplify fares but at a cost of large fare increases.