Ah yes, I'd forgotten the F-word
mainly because I've only had about two trips in them. I see that the F100 was in service from 1986 and the smaller 70 in service from '94.
None of which denies that the original concept - before fuel and political crisis' - was the right idea. Engine development wasn't there at the time (for not dissimilar reasons) but 'Regional Jet' is now a firmly established market sector.