The problem is - you are writing in past tense for some reason and indulge in sweet memories of a time long gone - a time when punters were not used to pay 9.99 GBP to fly across Europe and thus were willing to pay realistic fares for regional flying. Just pull out an airline directory of the 1990s and compare what regional airlines were around in the UK, France, Germany, Italy back then and what is now on the market.
What were
- the 10seaters in the 1960s (Pipers, Beech)
- the 19seaters in the 1970s (Metros, C99s, Jetstream 31, Twin Otters, Bandeirantes),
- became 30-45 seaters in the early/mid 1980s (Brasilias, DHC8-100, Saab 340, ATR42), - 50-70 seaters in the mid/late 1980s (Saab 2000, DHC8-300, ATR72, ATP),
- became jet 50 seaters in the early 1990s (CRJ200, E145),
- became 70-80 seaters at the turn of the century (CRJ700, E170, E175s, Q400) and
- then 90-100 seaters (CRJ900, CRJ1000, Embraer 190).
Every time a new generation of regional aircraft came on the market, the previous generation was more or less dead. Now we are moving from the 100 seat segment to 120 seats (CS100, E195-E2). The only change in the development of the last 40 years is that the 80 seat turboprops have stayed in the game because of their lower fuel consumption and that some small aircraft have survived or were revived because they are needed for niche applications that have little to do with traditional regional air services.