I think we've been through the 'oyster card vs paper ticket' debate before...and oyster cards get people through barriers quicker, as long as the software is working properly. So just make sure the software works properly.
As for station improvements: roll on TfL taking over the station in 2010-ish. There may be no 'endless' pot of money, but there've been vast improvements to Tube stations under TfL, and they're our best hope for both general improvements to our station, and the wider redevelopment of the station as a whole. *No-one* is going to do anything about that station knowing that it's going to change hands in two years' time: it just doesn't make financil sense. I hope both our councillors and the Forest Hill Society are pre-empting the move to TfL and preparing the ground for improvements once they take over.