Three Lions: For all the analysis, the expert and intelligent opinion on this thread alone, it’s clear the 737 has been designed right upto, and perhaps slightly over what the overriding aircraft type is capable of accepting.
I had come to that same conclusion, as soon as I first heard the name of the new model, MAX. I do hope your family does not get on it, but I think the general public will gradually forget, and fill the plane to capacity most of the time.
So it goes.