I dunno. I like the buttons, well if they worked I would. The prospect of actually being able to be in control of the trains in any way is cool. Also it reduces the pressure on the trains if only for a little bit as opposed to them on a never ending journey.
But the battering they must get is immense. It may be better if they were more like the ones you get on door releases which must get a similar level of constant battering. If they also were accompanied by a light to say ...only press when I'm lit... then they may be treated better.