oh, does it? i thought it was a flat rate haha. but then again i dont do a lot of variation when i get on. when i go to my dads i usually take the commuter from franklin to back bay, and then from there to oak grove. but if the train doesn't stop at back back i go to south station, 1 stop on the red line to downtown crossing, and then catch the orange line there. my dad lives about 2 blocks from oak grove. walking distance.
and yes, i hate the charlie card smurf too. besides that fact that no one knows how to use the machines, so it takes forever, they're just a pain in the ass.