I’ve now bought them both and need two lives to even try to get into these to any depth. I’m not worried by the textures on the MD-80, but completely understand those who are. Done just a couple of flights in each so far, and the MD-80 definitely feels that bit more involved somehow - hard to describe. That said, I’ve also really enjoyed the 146.
Whichever you prefer (or neither) they both seem great in depth aircraft to me. Great that we have choice and great that we are getting this level of complexity and depth.
They are expensive - in the UK, £50 for the 146 and £75 for MD-80. But I do feel they are both money well spent.
But we are all allowed opinions, and if people feel the MD-80 is too expensive and not good value, especially given the textures, that’s totally fine - and you shouldn’t buy it of course.
EDIT - and when the 737 comes, I will need three lives…