The current state of things.

So here we have the standard metro map as it currently stands.
I only ever really use it as a good way to get to the beach but others find a use for it.

Many people chose where to live based on proximity to metro stations though due to the quick access it gives them to other parts of the network. Many students live up in the otherwise horribly far away West Jesmond for instance due to the metro access.
One big problem I have with this though is that the metro stops at midnight...and the time when you really want to get home and don't want to make the big slog from the city center is after some drinking at night.
I'd rather (and did) live Jesmond Dene way where though far from metro access you have a flat, well lit route home (perfect for cycling!)

I also find the metro rather good for easy access to the airport. Many airports have absolute nightmarish access to the cities they are meant to serve with various companies holding a monopoly on premium rate shuttle bus services or super expensive trains. Thanks to the metro though we avoid this.

You may notice looking at the metro map though that it is really rather lopsided towards the east. Newcastle however does have a west. A pretty densely inhabited one at that.

South of the Tyne we have Gateshead...a town which the metro hardly touches. It skims through the north east of Gateshead completely ignoring its south and west; again where much of the population is.

In Sunderland the metro goes through a nice central route to get into the center from the north but then on the south side (the main side, where most people live)it hugs close to the river and ignores most of the city. And the metro people were surprised at the lower than expected ridership!

After Newcastle, Sunderland and Gateshead the next major settlement in Tyne & Wear is Washington...A place which is not at all touched by the metro. Not even a little.
This is despite there having formerly been a railway line running through the town, a line which was took away entirely early in the 21st century rather than being put to use serving this town of 50,000 located right between Sunderland and Gateshead.