I wish I shared your optimism!
I thought the same during 'rona, people weren't buying it online but as soon as Bojo sternly told us we must all wear a mask, the majority folded like soggy fucking deckchairs on a wet Skeggy beach
Literally up to the
night before the 'mandate' there was literally nobody wearing them my way, to the point you'd laugh and say "oh look, we finally spotted a loon in the wild!" if you did see the odd one, very next morning I pop to Tesco and I'm the only umasked person there, and people are screaming at you and threatening to punch you in the face
There's STILL some in my area wearing them and I guarantee the same people will fold next time as well
The vast majority of Brits are just too cowed by 'authority' and yes, cowardly and will beg for more 'protection' from Daddy Government when Daddy Government pull their chains
I really hope you're right and I'm wrong!