I'm an outsider but, I can't say I've heard many nice things about SMB. The cavalier who wanted to start and run an airline the size of BA (which is not one airline but the agglomeration of almost every UK carrier of the last 90 years).
To be sympathetic to him (and all those in the various companies) he did have the UK govt against him and, although he survived when Laker got toasted, he was always on a the slippery slope. By the time that international agreements were easing, then the LCCs could also start and the game was over.
It just that it has taken 20 years and a the greatest recession since the 1930s to bring BD/baby/regional to the end of their run.
Not nice but the course has been clear for some while.