This particular streetcar route makes me think employees of the TTC rely a little too heavily on schadenfreude to get themselves through their work days. Just try taking this from the downtown core to Broadview Station after the workday ends at 5:00 / 5:30. YOU WILL NEVER MAKE IT.
First of all, this streetcar gets packed. Like "did-I-remember-to-put-on-deodorant-today-because-this-guy-is-standing-REALLY-close" packed. It usually empties out and becomes a little more comfortable at the subway stops, but expect a standing-room only situation.
Second, I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have gotten on this streetcar and managed to stay on it until I got to my desired stop. They are notorious for short-turning cars on this route, sometimes 3 or 4 in a row, leaving me stranded in the hot/cold just waiting to get home.
I understand that they short turn in order to meet demands going in the opposite direction, but it's an incredible inconvenience, especially when the streetcar is as packed as it always is. So now you've got a full streetcar of people waiting at the short-turn stop who inevitably aren't going to be able to get on the next streetcar because it's going to be just as packed.
The absolute worst, however, is I know what to look for to see if a streetcar is going to short turn. You'll hear the driver talk to a supervisor and then he/she will surreptitiously stand up and change the signs. Then he/she will sit back down. And that's it. Finally, 15 minutes and 10 stops later, they decide to inform you that they have been instructed to short turn. I HATE THAT. If you're told you're going to have to short turn, do us the courtesy of telling us IMMEDIATELY. I have multiple routes I can take to get home, and I can change my course if given enough notice. Instead, you decided to be a cowardly jerk afraid of confrontation and will just kick everyone off when you get to that final stop.
If you don't mind going out of your way and are looking to get through the city relatively quickly, go for the 505 Dundas. I take this in the mornings and it's a solid 10-15 minutes faster than trying to get through the downtown core on a King streetcar.
Seriously, this streetcar is the worst. I was almost late for a wedding once when I decided that it would be the best option to get me from point A to point B. We got on it an HOUR before the wedding, and it moved so slowly through traffic that we got out 45 minutes later (and a significant ways away from the venue) and hailed a cab and begged him to speed just so we would be there on time.