tbf the nyc subway is extremely convoluted and unintuitive to use compared to more civilized metros, lots of arcane rules like "only the first 3 cars can fit in this station so if you want to get off there you better remember where in the train you are" or "trains with prime numbers only stop at every other station during rush hour" which are never posted anywhere. It's like the least beginner-friendly metro of any on earth, even ones where the beginner doesn't speak the local language.
that said it's still not that hard, you buy a ticket, you try to get on the right train, and worst-case you end up 20 blocks away from your destination and try again