I've certainly called it the "Lada" when reporting a/c type. Also in common use was "A skip", "A parrot" ('cause it's bigger than a Budgie, but always as sick as..), "Skoda", "Yugo", "Another Terrible Plane" etc
It was good at stopping & descending. Defying gravity, however, was a very unequal struggle at the best of times. I've had in excess of 10,000fpm in descent (The PFD vertical speed indicator stops at 99 btw
). Landing LSI 09 and vacating down rwy 15 was regularly achievable...
Certainly in its early days there were numerous problems with hydraulics, pneumatics, PFDs blanking (not enough static wicks to dissipate St Elmo's
), engines & a myriad of other niggles.
It was slow, unreliable and I didn't particularly enjoy flying it compared to the 748 as it was quite fussy in rudder - you were always farting around with the rudder trim. Or maybe that was just me!
I guess that's why it didn't sell well?
Wouldn't have swapped the experience though. Happy days.