My observations also support Reaction II. Customer waiting time is free for the store, they will increase it right up to the point people start giving up and leaving.
The empirical evidence suggests a theoretical competing alternative is doing nothing to stop this or other enshittification trends in established markets.
Disagree. Customers will get angry long before they actually give up and walk out, especially if there is no easy alternative.
Guess what happens the moment there is an easy alternative.