If BA do go for the 773, and with the 772LR and 773ER in the background, does this not spell the end for the 744?
If BA (as the worlds biggest 744 operator) feel that the 777 can meet most/all their needs then surely the long-term future for the Queen of the Skies looks bleak. Even if Boeing do go for an Advanced 747 with 7E7 systems, will it be enough to justify the aircraft over the 777? And if BA release 744s, then the second hand market may be healthy enough to kill off new production.
Maybe Boeing should allow the 744 to go gracefully, and then bide their time until they are ready to go head-to-head with the A380.