Thanks Jim,
I've taken a look at the loading trucks around the airports and it seems they don't have to lift very high to reach the deck of a TP.
The ones I see seem able to do this - don't they scissor up to any height you need?
Point well taken that you'll need an itty-bitty container for most of these regional narrow bodies.
For package loading, are you referring to the kind of belt loader used for luggage, or something that gets carried into the aircraft?
Loading from front and back simultaneously didn't occur to me but yes, that sounds quite practical if you have a front and back door.
Sounds like your main point there is that these regionals are too small for it to take too long, no matter how you load.
FYI I am thinking about the various conversions popping up for Dash 8's, ATR's and Embraers, in case it wasn't obvious.