I am also the holder of such a pass, and I absolutely agree 100% with the above sentiment.
Where bus services are infrequent, particularly in rural areas, the local authority has the power to designate a particular bus journey as off peak even if it is before 09:30, to avoid an unduly long wait. (eg I had a relative who used to live in Poole, Dorset, and the bus was once per hour at 24 minutes past the hour. There was a consistent problem with "twirlies" trying to get on the 09:24 bus (especially when it ran late and arrived after 09:30), and it let to some friction between them and the bus drivers. The matter was resolved by designating this journey as off peak, which enabled ENCTS pass holders to use it without paying)
That was the case when I lived and worked in deeply rural Lincolnshire a few years ago.
The County Council removed the 0930 restriction altogether - had it still applied, 50% of the day's buses would have been unavailable to some folks!