> now you're supposed to be in the train 20min in advance

Oh, why is that? Never heard of it or had to do it anywhere. My last train trip starting from France was about 15 years ago, though. And most trains have several stops so you couldn't possibly be so early except at the initial departure, not without slowing down the whole trip unacceptably.

So a train driver closed the doors 2 minutes early once, letting a lawyer who could prove he was on time stranded in the train station instead of appearing in court, and now our world has changed. This is a true story, and this is really the beginning of the change. They also hired people from the airplane industrie, so they now control some stuff in the station instead of during the travel, robbing everybody of more time. It just baffles me that I can't rush to the train and buy my ticket inside, where I have nothing better to do anyways.

> remember that now you're supposed to be in the train 20min in advance

That is not true. They show the platform on the screens at the station 20 minutes in advance. I think they recommend being 5 minutes in advance, but they let anyone board as long as the doors are open.

you are right, they just "advise" you to be there 20 to 30 minutes early.

https://www.oui.sncf/aide/presentation-a-l-embarquement

And they outright write that some people will get an airplane experience, and not in a free drink way.

$former_job used to pay “pro 1ère” TGV tickets. Those came with free drinks and nibbles, I quite enjoyed it. It was much better than a plane in terms of noise, stability, and legroom. No idea how much they cost though.