The centre pedestal contains both the aeroplanes worst and best features - the thrust levers (the engines are rubbish in the 146) and the air brake (which makes it such a versatile aircraft).
Can any other airliner do 250kts on the glide to less than 5 miles and still be fully stabilised by 500ft agl? Or descend at 3000fpm and decelerate?
On the downside.... well where do you start? Appalling climb performance, slow cruise, high fuel burn (it burns more than an A320), crap systems.
I wouldn't say its over-engineered, seems to me more like the designers forgot to engineer the thing at all.
That said, it handles nicely, landing is relatively easy and there's always the nostalgia of your first jet type. In fact, I think it was a great aircraft to learn to fly jets on - the workload and needs for hands on flying is far higher than Mr Boeings finest.