I flew into LAX from Vancouver and took the shuttle to Metro Transit Center. I waited 23 minutes for the first shuttle. In that time, 5 LAX-it shuttles passed to take people to the ride share lot. 4 shuttles to employee parking, and 2 shuttles that circulate to terminals all passed.
Meanwhile, the People Mover above me sent empty trains to Metro every two minutes.
I arrived at Metro Transit Center 13 minutes after pickup. Metro workers/cleaners/security/ambassadors easily outnumbered passengers 3 to 1. The station was pristine and almost devoid of passengers.
I waited 14 minutes for the C line to Norwalk. According to the signs, trains were running every 20 minutes. There were 6 people on the platform when my train arrived. I was the only one with luggage.
I transferred to the A Line at Willowbrook. Every person transferring in front of me, used the emergency exit to transfer. No one tapped in at the fare gates. Due to mechanical issues, trains were running at a decreased frequency. I didn't remember to look at the exact time, but it was about 10 minutes to transfer.
Overall, it took 2 hours and 20 minutes from the time I left baggage claim until I arrived at the PCH A-line station in Long Beach. It cost $1.75. When I've taken Uber in the past, it's about 45 minutes including the shuttle, but $85.
For me, in the middle of a Saturday, the cost savings is worth the extra hour and a half, but clearly I'm the minority. The train ride itself was only mildly annoying. Loud music on shitty speakers. Strong smell of marijuana. One guy screaming and yelling at no one in particular, but felt safe enough. Later at night, I might reconsider. If I needed to be somewhere fast, definitely would opt for Uber.
If the people mover actually opens, I think it would save about 30 minutes on the connection to Metro. If it had opened on the original schedule, imagine all the thousands of hours people would have saved over the past 3+ years. Still not sure it's opening will drive that many new riders, but hopefully.