Airplanes are a mature technology.

Magic materials (light, strong, flexible, etc) and hyper efficient power plants that improve operating costs by 1 or 2% are probably a better bet than removing a couple of bozos at the front end who:

1. Aren’t that expensive in the grand scheme of things
2. Are extremely useful to blame when things go sideways (to be fair, it sometimes is pilot error)
3.Occasionally do something darned useful.

Even if this is somehow true, it will take decades to develop. Even the next gen of engines is 20 years away. Adapting SAF to current engines will be the focus.

I keep reading the title of the thread as "Boeing's next aircraft pointless."

Prolly the most accurate read. Embrace the bus.

How’s the 777X coming along, Boeing?

If you're talking 737, that's 5 decades plus. It entered airline service in 1968.