True. They're old, crappy to ride on, etc. And depending on which outsourced vendor is operating it and and their specific W/B program, stupidly weight restricted.

But ask yourself this;

What's the BIGGER threat to the mainline NB pilot's job? The crappy 50 seater serving East Jesus Texas and BFE Louisiana, or wherever else? OR, the 70 seater that's more capacity disciplined/flexible for medium/large cities when mainline feels the need to scale back NB service?

Or asked another way, would you rather see the 70 seaters go away at the regionals, OR the 50?

In a PERFECT WORLD, the 70's would all be at mainline, as well as the 50's. But you can poop in one hand and wish in the other, we're NOT THERE YET on scope recovery.

God forbid a Kirb Stomp comes down the pike.....