Not ‘shooting the messenger’, and I have no doubt that what you say is right, but it‘s strange in that case, then, that CS have made it quite clear on their website that passengers should only make bookings for the sleeper if their journey is ‘absolutely necessary’. Unless that is an old message from the days of strict lockdown, which they will remove on 15th? Most TOCs at the moment, even those which operate entirely within England where hospitality has re-opened, have made it quite clear that leisure travel is strongly discouraged while social distancing measures are needed on trains (though not necessarily against the law any more). I see entirely why this is the case, as trains have very limited capacity with the restrictions.
Presumably CS passengers are, for the moment, being asked to confirm that their journey is essential before booking (or asked for some proof of this when boarding)? I know that this is the case on CalMac ferries, and that police have also been (quite rightly) enforcing this in some Scotrail stations, turning away non-essential travellers. Will this practice continue after the 15th? In other words, are bookings for non-essential journeys on the sleeper accepted after July 15th? Or is it still essential travel only? I can imagine that a number of tourists might be attracted to the sleeper after 15th given that it provides socially distanced berths, but will they be allowed on it?
Leisure travel has never been against the law, other than the period that there was a general prohibition on leaving the home other than for specific purposes.
Any journey that is or was legal by car is and was legal by train.
"Guidance" said otherwise, but guidance is not the law.
In direct communication with Caledonian Sleeper Guest Relations, they've been more than happy to engage with queries and assist with all my bookings for future travel.
All that they have (politely) asked is that, just prior to travel, passengers check the latest guidance and rules for that travel - but they have not in any way discouraged me from making bookings that I have put in for August and November Highlander trips.
The only other thing that they mention in correspondence, as I noted upthread, is that the Club Car will be out of use until the end of August unless otherwise advised.
This really mirrors what the airlines are doing; you can make a booking without having to qualify your eligibility to travel at the time of booking, but by the same token you must ensure that you are eligible to travel immediately prior to actual departure.
To this end, most airlines are emailing passengers the day or two before travel, with any updated operational policies and links to government websites.