Originally Posted by
Knotcher
The reason the 737 cockpit looks like it does is mostly due to the FAA, not Boeing. The FAA makes it so onerous to change anything due to training and certification requirements that is just is not feasible for airlines or Boeing. The FAA created this problem themselves.
The reason the 737 cockpit looks like it does is mostly due to the existence of Southwest Airlines during the time of the 737NG's development. Were it not for them, you probably would've seen a "real" NG with a cockpit more like that of the 777/AIMS.