That experience is typical of stories I hear in Sheffield. When the service was reilable it was worth paying for. Even before Covid it was flawed. At least on South Pennine there are rail alternatives.
TPE will need to prove they can provide a reliable service for months before they'll get significant passenger numbers back. Most are now settled in a new work/life pattern that does not require a daily train. For leisure it doesn't include an expensive fast train.
That doesn't auger well for TPE.
Similar to the experience around the North East as well.
We have offices across Manchester and Tameside (Ashton/Stalybridge) and I used to visit quite regularly. I cannot abide the drive down from Newcastle as I get bored so I used to take the train - do some work, relax with a coffee (a wine on the way back) but the total stress of logging onto journey check to see if my train was running or if it was, was there catering or reservations? It just became added stress and I never enjoyed my time with the Teams down in Manchester because I was thinking about the journey on the way back - people sitting on tables until Leeds etc etc.
I'd happily go back if I could trust the service but the stress isn't worth it for me.