Then why the wordwide move away from regional jets back to TPs?? The ERJ and CRJ order books aren't exactly full, but the ATR 42/72 and Dash8 have large order backlogs. Quite a few airlines have cancelled options on RJs in favour of TPs.
All precipitated by the rise in fuel prices - must be a pretty good indication that the beancounters figure TPs are more efficient on the shorter routes.