It would be accurate to say that props do have a negative passenger appeal but convenience is more important for most people. If you can fly out of your local airport for the same price then I can't think of many who would drive an extra 75 miles to London in order to specifically fly on a jet. Damn sure I wouldn't, especially on a sector under 3 hrs. SOU passengers are used to props anyway, only recently have BACX changed to operating ERJ's on some of their routes.
Passengers want low fares, if it means flying on a prop then so be it. If you don't want to fly on a prop then you don't have to. Their are lots of shiny jets up at the many London airports that can whisk you away for a similar cost, all you need to do is add the hassle/cost of travelling and parking, which will probably have the effect of adding 50% of the cost of the fare you will be paying.
The order will see the retirement and return of the Dash Q200/300 fleets to Bombardier, and the CRJ's. One has already been painted into it's next airlines colours, that of Sahara Airlines of India. The remaining CRJ's should be gone within the next few months.