@Hare on the hill

Have to disagree with your impression the ELL is close to it's maximum going south of New Cross Gate at peak already. The way I see it is that the trains are designed for a majority of passengers (or 'customers' as they insist on calling us now) standing and there's still been plenty of scope for more of that when I've been on them each evening. I'm comparing this directly to the absolutely rammed Jubilee line trains at peak where people routinely can't fit on which I have yet to see that on the ELL under normal circumstances (unlike this morning ofc). Not saying I'm looking forward to that level of busy of course, just trying to still appreciate the honeymoon period!

As for late at night - the only way I can choose the quickest route of either London Bridge or Canada Water is to check the TFL route finder when I know I'm leaving somewhere, otherwise you can bet I'm going to choose the wrong one...