Junior, 737-200 has it's first flight in 1967 ..If you compare it with the 1988 made 320,well..it's some gap..
you maybe not get paid more for greater ROC, but it may help you clear some obstacles..
, also, can one land a Bus with 189 pax on a 1300m long runway ,one like S.Dumont has, ?
About the nicer working environment you are spot on..maybe this is why almost all pilots will mention the tray..it's like a simbol to Bus's cockpit comfort..
And as many say the Bus it's easier to fly,in normal day by day flight, mostly cause it flies for you.
The rudder story...I'd say it was fixed by know..How many incidents connected with the 737 rudder you know of? Not many compared with the more than 90 million flights done by 2006 ,right?..