Surely the era of clipping tickets should have ended before now anyway? I know we have discussed this before but we are long overdue more general electronic ticketing on the network: that would put an end to ticket punches.
I happen to think paper tickets and clipping them is a rather neat solution. Cheap, easy and not dependent on batteries. If it has lasted so long maybe it is a good system.
Also, the ticketing system needs an overhaul in terms of simplifying fares and rules. This should be done BEFORE any move to electronic ticketing. Of course it won't be so electronic ticketing will add a new layer of complexity, loopholes and anomalies