I think the Southern trains are stopping for longer at each station so the average time to get into LB has gone up from 15 to 20 mins (and as you say sometimes more). However, I'm certainly enjoying being able to just turn up and wait 3-4 mins to jump on the first train that shows up. I don't think my journey time to work has reduced at all (perhaps gone up by 5 mins), but the journey in is far more pleasant now (esp if I get a LO in - although it was the most crowded so far today).

Knowing that they've got rid of our trains to Charing X, the fast trains to London Bridge and have now cut the number of trains in the evening peak, I have deliberately been avoiding using London Bridge in the evening peak thinking that if I don't get onto a train early enough I'd not be able to get on at all!

Bit of a Catch-22 it seems...!