So fun realization about the newer form of TTC fare gates: they have both a time out and seemingly no sensor unless you are actually obstructing the gate. Even a slight delay between tapping and moving through (like, say, dropping the **** card) results in the gate slamming in your face. Followed by the entire gate line locking you out for lord knows how long. Apparently transit control can't even override, so unless someone can locate the station agent it look like the gates will happily take the fare and lock you out of the station.
And for the record, suddenly the staff who had had no interest in overriding the gate got very angry when I forced the stupid thing open.
Not sure of the solution here, but something's broken, and I'd guess its to do with sensor functionality. Didn't the old token gates stay unlocked until they'd rotated?