I think the train companies trade on this. I have a degree in maths, and yet I get so confused/fed up/tired by having to deal with this shit that I will Just Pay Them The Fucking Money to make the problem go away.
(I also particularly love the bait&switch I've sometimes seen where National Rail Enquiries advertise a particular ticket price, which is then nowhere to be seen when you click through to the Evil Bastards who can sell you a ticket.)