And they could not have been that much of a failure, because most are still flying. SAAB 2000s are quite rare and hard to find, yet operators still acquire and choose them over a used ATR 72 or Q400. It would seem since the ATR and Bombardier products are still in production, that supporting them must be cheaper than a SAAB 2000.
So obviously, the aircraft got something right, otherwise they would all be in the desert or turned into beer cans.
I would love to see an improved SAAB 2K with all the latest technology, I think it would make a fine aircraft. I think it was ahead of its time when released, but with oil only getting more expensive in the long run, turboprops (or whatever is the most efficient) will surely be the way to go on certain trip lengths. Especially when you start bumping into jet speeds like the S2K and the Q400 do.