It may be just superstition, but I choose where I can to fly on 757s. In preference to a 737NG or an A320, it has more power and performance. I equate this with an even smaller chance of me being involved in an accident.
Leaving Kona for LAX in a 757 is a less-than-half-a-runway experience. Leaving Hilo for LAX in a 738 seems to be a white knuckle ride. I appreciate the 737 is lower to the ground, but there's less room for comfort.
But when buying aircraft, who's going to allow an extra 40% of power and wing area per seat on all trips in order to get the extra range required on some? And if Boeing has gone to the trouble of designing the 788, surely they'd like to sell some of them with features missing at a discount to fit the niche rather than start work on a new machine to do the job.