Boeing would’ve been better off by doing a proper development exercise with a mini 787, new narrow body to replace the 737, instead of the Max.
Sure, it would’ve been a longer, more expensive effort, but they would’ve had a fresh new platform that would’ve been safe and efficient for decades to come. Instead we have a a 50 year old chicken ostrich, a synergy of old and new tech, with little studied implications. Because it’s “only an upgrade”.