Yes, I hear that every time I mention this. It is a lazy objection: the only things vaguely similar between the pneumatic tubes of the past and the ones I'm talking about are the pipes and the pods.

Specifically, in those systems the pods were moved by compressed air: today they could just be electric and autonomous. They needed to be routed manually at intermediate stations, now they could just reach their destination automatically. Only five pods a minute could travel on those pipes, but electric drive means each pod can keep a minimum distance from the one before. There would be no need for engine rooms with air compressors spaced along the route. Etc.

Basically, you can think of it as autonomous driving on a dedicated road any without obstacles.