The 146/ARJ has operated out of challenging airports around the world for, what, 30 years, with a (mostly) very good safety record. Thrust reversers were, I believe, seen as an unnecessary complexity during it's design. In it's earlier days, London City Airport (with it's steep approach and 1300m, runway) would not have grown like it did without this aircraft.
It has 4 engines which commercially has been a bit of an achilles heel over the years, but for these largely over-water ops to a challenging airfield, where loads are never going to be massive, it seems it may be quite suitable.
Pity they're all getting a bit old!