Without a sufficiency of point to point passengers paying the fully flexible fare of £301.00 the LBA-LHR can not survive nor can any other domestic service.
You need a mix - They are NOT rather expensive cabs and you also need to avoid carrying too many alliance partner passengers at pence in the pound !
I do think Leeds risks disappearing again.
I also think that if pulled there are some in BA HQ that may take advantage to say -See regional really don't work and here is the evidence.
Fairdealfrank i know your avid supporter of the LHR expansion and believe its an opportunity to rebuild UK domestic feed.
Beyond the existing shuttle routes only Jersey and Inverness really have potential.
The rest are dead and buried.