Thoughts about overnight train and bus rides

While in India I took a lot of overnight rides, both on trains and busses. The idea is straightforward; you get on in the evening, usually sometime after 9pm, then try sleep as you travel through the night, arriving at your destination early on the next morning, sometimes before 5 am. Depending on how much you’re willing to pay you can get varying levels of comfort, ranging from a normal upright chair to a full scale double bed in some busses.
I’m still torn on whether overnight travel is worth it. On the one hand, if you’re on a tight schedule, its easy to feel that you must do in order to hit everything you want to see. Also, you can talk yourself into believing its less expensive since you’re saving on the cost for a hotel room for a night. On the other hand, I inevitably arrive at my destination extremely tired so I lose a few hours recovering from the trip, anyway. I also miss out on seeing the country side roll by through the window, and the cost of a hotel room is so small as to be negligible in most cases.
So, I guess I’m torn. It’s a necessary evil in some circumstances, so here are some suggestions to make it bearable:

--AC class is essential if you have allergies, are traveling without bedding, or if you need some modicum of quiet to sleep. AC class is warmer in the winter, since they have sealed windows from the cold.
--It is best to get a berth as close to the ground as possible. This reduces rocking as the train or bus moves.
--Try to get a berth close to the middle of train carriage or bus, as this will reduce the effect of bumps.
--Use ear plugs if you can sleep with them in
--Use eye covers, if you can sleep with them on.
--Bring a lock with a chain to secure your luggage near you