"One more question related to this article: "All Q400 take-offs have to be brakes-off, rolling start." No explanation is given as to why, do any Q400 drivers know why this is the case?"
Engine limitations.
What limitations are they then? I have been on board when the engineers are doing ground runs, they sit there with full power on for over five minutes.
It was explained to us that it was to prevent pitting of the props and fuselage due to fod damage.