I recall my first 146. in December 1987 G-MIMA started for Manx and I was onboard (by sheer chance) on it's first revenue rotation from LHR. It was midday with the formal launch for the evening rotation.
It replaced the Viscounts and was great. I have always enjoyed the various iterations and will be on one again later in the year in South Africa (SA Airlink).
The aircraft was years late due to the above causes but it was a real groundbreaker. Then came Bombardier in 1991(?) and Embraer in 1995(?) who provided 1990s competition against a 1980s machine. Naturally, designs, materials and engines had all changed radically. The market for RJ sized engines must have been tiny. But now, through 146/EMB/BOM and others, it's a huge market. Also, what about the seating capacity of their competitors against the RJ?
As so often, the Brits were in the right place at the right time and then international crisis and politics grounded them.
(I sit to be corrected)