Very interesting, John. Surveying the ramp at Los Angeles International in the late 1980s and seeing 146s in a variety of liveries, everywhere, one could be forgiven for thinking the aircraft had been intended to open up the West Coast of the USA!
The four small engines had conferred another benefit - low noise - which made the 146 acceptable in Orange County and other noise sensitive areas. A case of "not quite what the designer intended, but jolly good anyway". The massed ranks at LAX of a British design were a pleasing sight.
Graham Perry