so, in other words, you showed up at pretty much the same time as everybody else, except they were there before you were taking too long to buy tickets, and now you want to blame the entire public transportation system?
try getting there earlier.
ive taken the metrolink from santa clarita to burbank many a time, and even now when i dont live in canyon country anymore, i sometimes take it from burbank to northridge. if the vending machine is broken, you get on the train anyway, inform the conductor that the machine is broken, and buy the ticket when you disembark.
you could also take antelope valley transit bus from lancaster/ palmdale to los angeles as well. i believe it also goes to union station or real close.
http://www.avta.com/
i mostly drive my car, but often ride my bicycle to work. if im too tired to ride the 15 miles back, i will either ride to the metro link station or to the north hollywood metro station and catch the train or bus home.