Let get to heart of this.
Why wouldn't PenAir want a Dash 8? It is a much better aircraft to operate in the state of Alaska. I'll put overall operation of a Dash 8 up against a Saab anyday. There is a reason you guys are getting them for so cheap; no one else wants them. The Saab may cruise a little faster, but the Dash can approach at much slower speeds, land in much shorter field lengths, and land with 20 knots on the tail. Bump up to the -200, and now it can keep up with the Saab. Move up to the -400 and it can match the AS jet to almost any destination in the state.
Okay, so maybe you have a low-wing, and look pretty. Isn't that just jet-envy?
Maybe we should open this to the entire regional thread.