I do not think that it is a matter of not being able to match a Boeing engineering standard, though I must say that having flown the 737 it is a hell of an airplane and the airbus is nowhere as strongly built as a 737. But it does not have to be, because it is not meant to be. Big airlines change their aircraft every 7-12 years, after that the airplanes look old and pax do not like them regardless who builds them.... The initial customer and the consumer has to be happy for that period only. No one cares what happened to the aircraft when it moves down the food chain. The airbus is definetely better for passenger comfort (A320/737) and even on the 330/340 a lot easier to operate and still great for the consumer than alot of boeing products. Airbus has caught on to the era of cheap and durable for the waranty period, just like the cars, the electronics and anything else you buy nowdays. It is true that we all look at the marvels of engineering and admire past great cars, airplanes, etc but we all want to fly the newst, and drive the newst. Even Mercedes is not built like it used to be, but then again we do not keep our personal things as long either...