The problems in the NSW network (and the rest) are nothing to do with the age of the aircraft. The product is sound, the execution, particularly in regard to staff retention and parts sourcing is the downfall. The SAAB under a strong maintenance program has at least another 10 years of profitable service life, there is no vice in its engineering as yet that will increase its costs significantly other than poor operator choices.
The big problem may come when SAAB actual pull the pin on support, however if this also coincides with a savvy third party wanting to buy the rights to the aircraft and do what is being done with the Dornier then it could also be a good thing. We've seen the ex Dornier models like the 228 continue under HAL and now the 328 coming back to life in a modernized package.
Considering the flexibility of the SAAB airframe to be tailored to anything between 30 and 70 seats with fuselage plugs and systems already designed for high speed flight as per the 2000 it would be more competitive than the Dornier, with a tested history of solid build quality that lasts.