Yeah sorry mate, you are correct, it is more down to poor layout and indeed, the 185's were not particularly suitable when they were introduced and are less so now. All that will of course be changing.
I know we are straying a bit off topic here, but you seem to indicate that the new trains will solve the overcrowding on TPE?
Over the last few weeks I have travelled quite frequently from Northallerton to Manchester Airport and Liverpool and back at various times of the day. The trains fortunately have in general been formed of two units making 6 carriages in total.
Upon boarding at Northallerton the trains have been what I describe as 'comfortably full' ie busy but I could get a seat. After more pax got on at Thirsk and York they were almost fully loaded. Leaving Leeds it was generally 'sardine class' with a lot of people standing.
The same was true on the return journeys, ie on the Manchester to Leeds leg the six car units were standing only before thinning out a bit at Leeds and again at York leaving the trains comfortably full.
So, if that is the current state of play with six carriages, heaven help us when the new 5 carriage trains take over.
Even travelling in First on a few journeys I found this area somewhat 'oversubscribed' with pax having to stand. I can only imagine 'First' was full in the other unit as some people changed between units at Huddersfield only to find the First class in my half of the train was just as full as First (and standard) in the other unit!.