747Focal,
I note you haven't answered a non-technical question (on 747 sales before first flight) on another forum, so I'll try a different one here.
Care to tell us all about the exceptions through grandfather rights on the 744 and the 737NG?
Each time I ask a Boeing guy (with whom I'm in daily contact) about these things, the issue just gets skirted around.
It really starts to look a bit like glass houses and stones after a while, doesn't it?