For the passenger, a short-haul aeroplane is a short-haul aeroplane surely, as long as you can stow your carry-on and park yer butt then it doesn't matter, I wouldn't have thought? I am not a pilot but, like PaxBoy, I have seen this pilot banter a few times and I think the merits of various aeroplane types were discussed ad nauseam on "Jet Blast".
My only recall of the essential differences comes from Gordon Bethune (the former CEO of Continental Airline Inc) who was previously a member of the Boeing management team. In his book "From Worst to First" he makes a mention of the "Fly By Wire" technology employed on Airbusses and why Boeing made the decision to remain with traditional control methods.
"If it isn't going to benefit the operator with reduced costs, isn't going to benefit the pilots by making their jobs easier and isn't going to benefit the passengers with more comfort, but it is going to cost the manufacturer more - Why Bother?"
On quite a few of the Continental pilots bags, I've seen the sticker joyfuilly proclaiming "..........If It Ain't Boeing, I Ain't Going!"
But, then, with the Seattle factory in deep dooh dooh a few years ago after 09/11/2003, and laying off staff, I imagine that's maybe a bit of patriotism!
