As to the operational reasons why the lifts can't be used by fans, I have no idea.
What you can pretty categorically rule out is any suggestion of charging for their use, as suggested. Can you imagine the "Heartless football club CHARGES the disabled to use lifts" headlines? Not a chance...
Brighter pitch lighting, especially down the East touch line. I alternate between the back row of ESL and West 1901. The East side viewed from the West is significantly harder to see at night than the other way round.