The "problem" is, in my eyes, as I'm sure others, is in the time having to wait for a "connection", and to a certain degree the reliability of same with issues like late running services and what happens when services, particularlying those operating in the Whitby direction are full. I can understand, to a point that not many people were making the full through journey and one has to question just how many will make it when travelling on the new arrangements? We can only wait and see.
With regard to the employment issues, in part you answer this yourself in the length of journey time given what I say above; connect this into the issues I mention above, it may suit some, but not me.
Moving on to the X93 the scepticism will remain as it has for some years. Arriva have never truly addressed the issues and I doubt never will, it is a prime long distance service and should be operated / marketed as such, AKA the Yorkshire Coastliner, this has seen money invested over the years and no doubt the operator is reaping the rewards. To give Arriva some credit, it is difficult to see how they can invest in the service as it cannot, until something is done regarding the concessionary travel scheme; someone commented previously about the reimbursement operators receive in respect of this? I think it was in the region of 80p which kinda says it all!