If conventional wisdom is that only combined PLH/NQY flights could fill a Brymon / ASW 50 seater to some extent, I fail to see how all these destinations could realistically be served with a 78 seater Q400 from NQY. I contrast, the 15 odd people wanting to travel from NQY to LBA, GLA, BHD and MAN could easily fill a Q400 feeding a mini EXT hub.
As for "people want direct flights", will they stay at home if there are none and the only alternative is to drive to EXT or take a one-stop from NQY? Fact is that Flybe now has now competition, i.e. travellers have no choice.