Alan, the Cardinal varies in several respects (run time of the short leg, the size of the station its transfering at, and so on) that I don't consider it more then, perhaps, back up support for your point. Pretending the Cardinal doesn't exist, what other information do you demonstrably have to prove your perspective? I haven't heard anything than conjectures, opinions, and speculation on your part on this subject.
Do you have any data to back this up besides the Cardinal?
So let me see if I understand the rules correctly. It's ok to use Chicago with its station size and transfers as a comparison to tiny San Antonio, but it's not ok to use DC because the size of that station is too big?
And it's funny, but my entire problem with this potential change is that I haven't seen any data from Amtrak or anyone that proves that this will be a good thing. Everyone acts like it will be a good thing, but I've not seen a single number or stat that shows that it will be a good thing.
However, since you don't like the Cardinal and since someone mentioned the Boston LSL, do some searches on OTOL. There have been a few stories, which may or may not still be available, that show that ridership dropped when they cut the through cars. Ridership is now back up with the restoration of the through cars.
And while I've no time to go looking for them, over the years I've seen many commuter surveys that have suggested that aside from on time performance, one of the biggest things commuters want is a one seat ride. This is why NJT built the Midtown Direct connection and why the LIRR is currently building the East Side Access.
I don't want to be Mr. Negative here, and part of me hopes that I'm indeed wrong. But again I've seen no numbers from Amtrak that show that this will indeed be a positive for the riders, frankly all signs point to this being a positive for Amtrak only. They get rid of the dreaded Sunset Limited name that everyone associates with failure, they get to start charging Texas for the stub train eventually, they save on some equipment, and they quiet a very vocal railfan group in California. If someone has numbers that show otherwise, I'll gladly shut up. But until then, I'll continue to say that I believe that this is a bad idea. And that's not nostalgia talking.