That's one way to spin it. But as a regular subway rider, that's not how I read it. I wouldn't say that crippled is a good way to describe not having countdown clocks. Instead I'd call crippled the status quo subway system -- subject to frequent breakdowns and delays due to an ancient signaling and control system in poor repair.

CBTC, without the unnecessary legacy system kept around who-knows-why and without the overstaffing kept around because of union contracts, should be the desired end state. And there's no great reason it has to take another 175 years or cost another $20B. To bring that end state modestly closer I'm happy to wait a little longer for arrival clocks -- YMMV.

To me this story is one of poor political oversight, terrible middle and upper management both in terms of day-to-day operations and in terms of bidding/ working with contractors, and overly powerful public sector unions. To anyone familiar with the MTA none of these come as any real surprise.