Under AJ's assumed plans here, it would seem that they might think it even more expensive to either (a) maintain the status-quo with mainline doing the flying (not likely), or (b) drop those routes they see as being unprofitable to continue flying under the mainline guise (also not likely).
Who knows; maybe they're thinking that they might as well just re-paint the existing mainline fleet and have JQ operate them in their current config. Particularly the -200 International Config ones - that would free up a little more gas to go the extra mile (or 600) needed to fly BKK-MUC/FCO. Or, as someone else said, just re-configure them with more seats and leave the galleys/bulkheads as they are. Surely it can only mean the loss of a couple extra rows.
Either this rumour is a self-perpetuating one, or there's something in it, because I've been hearing this from Engineers, Ground Staff and office types for the last month or so.