BAA had great hopes for STN and taxes the a*** off LHR airlines to rebuild Stansted. Result? A white elephant giving Air UK a hub to compete with BA on facilities but not routes. The reason STN became a loco backwater was because everything else was tried and failed. Long haul? Gone. Legacy European network carriers? Gone.
The fan boys are mistaking market behaviour as sins of the owner. BAAA were massively pro Stansted for years and when things did not work out, had little option but to lube up for the full Ryanair.
No new operator is going to change that. Comparing with LGW, please remember BAA held LGW back at the expense of LHR, they PROMOTED STN on the back of LHR fees. Only one of the three London airports was unloved.