If the manufacturers have super smart designs and can convince the airlines with facts and data that their new cutting edge designs can cater to certain market and show the airlines can make money at reasonable fare levels, the airlines will go for it.
Despite all the negative news in the media, airlines do their best to serve their customers. Often the disconnect is when the passengers want to pay the cheapest coach fare and expect the first class service.
Manufacturers have no interest in convincing an airline to cater to a market. The airline all ready knows how to exploit a market best and the manufacturer caters to the airlines desires. Airlines "legacy's" on a big level do not compete as much as you think, they are more like thugs who claim a turf. A small airline enters into their turf and they will operate at a loss just to shut them down EG: independence air in the usa circa 2004-2005. If you give them a more efficient aircraft they will utilize it in the most efficient manner first, not the most crowd pleasing.
To say it again, if an airline was to take an ultra modern long haul aircraft and operate it on a direct flight that bucked the system the competition would become fierce and that airline would have a hell of a time making their required load factor and probably be pushed out of business.
The spoke end of a hub and spoke system is often a burden on an airline, this is why we use commuters and low cost carriers are allowed to operate. They have much lower overhead (often pay crap, or in some cases pilots are learning to fly on these flights). The smaller the aircraft the less efficient per pax it is in most cases. An airline can not be troubled with a business that is completely different than it's own. Think of the liability of labor, maintenance, training, CAA safety record etc..
I understand your ideals and think they are great, I just fear it is a much more difficult business out there than you comprehend at this moment.