BKS,
Dark days ? Glory days for me. How dare you knock the Viscounts. I loved them ! Northeast, BA and BMA. They seated more than the Embraer as well, mind you I don't know what the pax figures and yield were like in the 70s and 80s.
I do, however, agree that it's a bit dismal using an Embraer instead of an Airbus for Heathrow. Sign of the times I guess. Good luck to the Airbus crews at LBA for a decent, and hopefully temporary, relocation.