CATII
This is my point.
You wrote: "I believe the sophistcated software does exist that could be employed every day for each sector to included pax/frt load, environmental factors and fixed costs. Could save a lot in the bean counter's salaries".
The starter post indicates that such a sophisticated software still doesn't exist. At least for B777 300ER on medium/long haul sectors (6 to 9 hours for the particular study), facts (or actual numbers) do not show any significant fuel savings on employing CIs on the lower 30s, over M.84 cruise, or CIs on the 150 to 180. As for the engine wear, the difference is absolutely negligible.
This means your overall trip cost will be lower going on the later cost index. This suggests that CI theory is not confirmed on real life, when cold numbers came out, at least on this particular case.
B777 having a M.84 wing is a very interesting theory and confirmed by facts.