Any gestation pains the GE90 had at service entry were sure to be blown out of proportion by a sympathetic (to RR) British press.

Plus, BA could have avoided the only hull loss accident on the 777 to date if they had not switched to Trents.

It is indeed hard not to see GE as the pre-eminent gas turbine engine manufacturer when evaluated unemotionally.

1) BA were able to evaluate the long-term pros/cons of each engine “unemotionally” to use your word without press emotions coming into it.

2) I think this is pure conjecture, highly contentious and debatable… too much of a ‘what if’ vaguery to be a valid point.

3) I would suggest your views are clouded by some sort of emotion. One engine does not fit all sizes… Different engines will suit different operations in different ways. I’m no technical expert but I dare say something like flight patterns would come into it, as well as the economics of maintenance which will vary between engine manufacturer for each airline, discounts offered at purchase… it’s a minefield!