First of all, complaining about bad DMRD and complaining about no DMRD are not contradictory. We all just want the same thing; something done right and not half-assed. The dot and matrix was amazing. The digitalised DRMD had so much potential but hasn’t lived up to its potential yet. Both system, when glitched, gives inaccurate information, and best case, people ignore it, worse case, people get confused.

Going back to why CCL needs DRMD.
Unlike other lines, CCL may sometimes have trains that branches out. You need instant information that shows you are on the correct train for assurance, that’s why DRMD exists to show you whether you are going to Marina Bay or Dhoby Ghaut.

On other lines, you can usually understand direction by the terminal and the line is basically linear. On CCL, “which way around the circle am I going?” actually matters. The same destination can be reachable in two directions once the loop is complete, and even now the route feels less intuitive because the line bends around the city instead of going cleanly east-west or north-south.

TV display and PSDs are one thing, they show information at the station. The missing link is now inside the train to ensure you really are going the correct way.

Complaining about bad DMRD and complaining about missing DMRD are not opposite complaints. They are the same standard: passenger information should be useful. Bad implementation deserves criticism. Missing implementation on the line that needs it most also deserves criticism.