Yes. Far more efficient, especially for non-regular riders.
Here, here…I third that sentiment. I like the Dallas TRE approach. Ticket kiosks at every station with a validator built in…only spot checks on the train. Mostly the honor system.
I think your going to find with Chicago though it’s because the system is run by multi-decade tenured railroaders that were taught by or learned their jobs from the former Privately run railroad railroaders…where every penny and nickel was counted. In the days of taxpayer supported service, if you don’t get them at the farebox…they are going to pay via taxes.
One of the problems with the honor system with spot checks is that most people assume that there are going to be a fair number of freeloaders with such a system and that the taxpaying public will pick up the slack.
In Chicago, except for the IC Electric, trains board from low-level platforms, making it difficult to control access. Many stations are open only during morning rush, which means that ticket-vending machines would have to be built to withstand the elements, making them more expensive. I’m also not sure how much money would be saved since adjusting crew requirements would require renegotiation of existing labor contracts.
Commuter trains have way too many conducters and assistant conducters to take tickets. a POP system where you validate your ticket before you sit down would work and a system that sences who is sitting where would help too.