DC Metro is still crushed under the weight of their (~10,000 person strong) staff.
DC Metro, while having an annual total ridership of 115 million less than the Philadelphia system (330.1 million vs. 215.3 million trips), has a personnel cost ($1.3 Billion of their $1.8b total operating cost) greater than the total cost of the Philly system (with 9,000 person staff).
You're missing the point if you're only looking at the specifics of ticketing kiosks.
DC Metro, while having an annual total ridership of 115 million less than the Philadelphia system (330.1 million vs. 215.3 million trips), has a personnel cost ($1.3 Billion of their $1.8b total operating cost) greater than the total cost of the Philly system (with 9,000 person staff).
You're missing the point if you're only looking at the specifics of ticketing kiosks.