But autopilot monkeys are what operates much of the global air transport fleet. That's just the way it is, and no amount of teeth gnashing will change it one bit. If BCA was very selective as to who they sold the max to, would they gotten away with this? Quite possibly. It would have manifested eventually for sure, with a single point of failure. But likely without any fatalities and then it would have just been an AD, not an existential crisis. But that's not really a realistic approach to business now is it? Especially given the competition...

We can count ourselves fortunate that we have enough cultural and institutional inertia here in the US that we won't be downgrading to MPL any time soon... even if airlines have to pay for primary training.