The advantage of 4 little engines for the 146 was the ability to get back from remote airfields with 1 engine out. We used to go into Moenchengladbach (1200m?); very little engineering support there; if we had a major problem we could empty the pax out, take off with 3 engines, lose a second engine on the same side at V1 and still have Perf A protection. It is unfair to compare it to a 737- they were designed for very different tasks.
Personally I loved flying the 146- it did get frustrating watching the rest of the world flying higher and faster, but I still get that when I look up from FL370 and a G5 overtakes me like I'm standing still 8000 feet above me.
So, Happy Birthday 146, and thanks for a year of the most varied and fun flying I have ever done.