Also, wishing for a blanket increase in total number of busses by some huge percentage to avoid anyone standing probably sounds like a real nice plan until you have to pay for it... Capacity management isn't as easy as throwing drivers and busses at the problem.

People don't mind in say, SF Chinatown. They pack those buses like sardine cans.

Because people will take a taxi or self driving car instead.

You're making a comparison here that's based on having no other choice.

There is obviously a difference between a 5 min journey down the road and a 30+ minute commute.

Will they? When I drive I have to worry about parking and, you know, driving. If I take a taxi or ride share I'm paying on the order of 6x what the bus costs.

I think you're overstating the annoyance of standing on a bus.