And before we say the battle is lost, the fact is that CAL and AMR have decent scope protections. The ones that have sold it are DAL, UAUA and LCC. Now LCC is shrinking their regional footprint with this LGA deal, and UAUA is in talks to bring CRJ900 flying to the mainline.
To me it looks like the tide is changing is the correct direction. I say keep the fight up, a few more correct moves and what you say sailing may just happen. Throwing are arms up in defeat is not the answer.