It's really not stupid given that the oyster card has to work across the whole tube, bus, DLR and train networks, on hand-held devices that conductors carry around the busses as well as barriers, turnstiles and 100 different ticketing systems. The Oyster card system works exceptionally well given the millions of transactions that occur daily. Changing suppliers would be an incedibly difficult move to make given the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" rule.
Slashdot Mirror
It's really not stupid given that the oyster card has to work across the whole tube, bus, DLR and train networks, on hand-held devices that conductors carry around the busses as well as barriers, turnstiles and 100 different ticketing systems. The Oyster card system works exceptionally well given the millions of transactions that occur daily. Changing suppliers would be an incedibly difficult move to make given the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" rule.