Yeah, the real reason the gates are there is to force the conductors to be more diligent about checking tickets on inbound trains (as well as rendering it superfluous on the outbound side), since it’ll be super obvious if they don’t and they’ll have some ‘splainin to do. Riders pay for it with their sanity since it makes the whole process more obnoxious/less convenient as well as ruining the floor plan/foot traffic flow through North Station, but my 1A pass says what’s up.