Whighlander - I don't understanding both your comparison to "Papers please" communism and your phone app (and it's spelled app, what article or written anything have you read that spell "ap" for app - any advertisement that said "there's an app for that" spelled it with two p's).
On the "papers please" that just seem to be an derogation. Arguing against PoP by saying it is similar to fascist/communist system of terrorizing citizens. Guilt by association. That can be applied to anything, if Nazi like peanuts, does that mean liking peanuts is now unacceptable? If you have an issue with PoP, what's wrong with the actual system?
On the app system, that's the same as the old system. People paying cash pay up front. People with the pass or card can jump on the back. Heck, the cards even get a discount too, just like your "ap". Just replace "ap" with card or pass, and it's the same thing system with the same problems. How does the app be any different when it comes to fair evasion?
I suggested before and suggest it again. It has been ignored without debate, but why can't we have a person manning the above around stations? Gates are expensive and most don't have the separation. And it's probably more expensive than PoP. But we can have a person taking fares. We already do this at like Fenway station after a game. We can do more and keep it strategic at like rush hour and at heavy use stations. The lighter ones are more manageable at the doors anyways. It sounds like a reasonable compromise if PoP is not an option to the MBTA's mind.
