Thank you for posting this - I was thinking the same whilst on the Southern WCML the other day and had been meaning to find this thread to ask the same question!
I used the 'new' accelerated service to EUS this week-end, taking advantage of the SOP fare from Lichfield. Friday's journey south was OK, the 350/1 took only a few mins. longer than my usual change to VT at Rugby (which is no longer viable), so for about £15 cheaper that was ok.
I had intended to return tomorrow on the accelerated service, but came back today. The 'accelerated service' on a Sunday, takes an extra 35 mins and stops at every lamp-post. The on-train, pre-recorded announcements are incomplete, contradictory and therefore confusing. A 2.5 hour journey to LTV is unacceptable, possibly something that others had judged - this usually exceptionally rammed service was very lightly loaded.
Next time I go down it'll be out 'direct' and back via VT to Brum for a quicker Sunday journey to Lichfield City.
I think that the bearded one has an opportunity to run a few Trent Valley stoppers on a Sunday, come the next timetable. In essentially aggregating and extending a semi fast Northampton service, LM have screwed things up.