Very true. What I don't understand is, why don't State Govt or whoever responsible simply buy the 'rights' to use Oyster system and adapt to here, surely it won't cost $1.4 billion, and isn't unreliable.
It works from suburbs up to zone 6 which is bit further from London CBD to Heathrow airport (I think Gatwick Airport is zone 6), that's good one hour train ride.