I'm thinking the 787 with its rather shaky reputation might end up less safe than any 737-MAX8 that is approved for service again. Only time will tell, it's a game of (large) numbers.

Choosing not to fly is pretty simple (If you accept that some locations are simply off limits). Flying "another plane" is NOT simple, unless you completely avoid airlines that have MAX8's, or avoid flying where a MAX8 may be used.

The problem is amplified by a few statistical problems: 737-800 is probably the most common jet around. Most (all?) MAX8 operators have 737-800's. That means any time you book a flight where a 737 may be used, it can be either a 737-800 or a MAX8. You can't know.

You can always turn around when you see a MAX8 in your gate, but you can't know when booking that a MAX8 won't be used, even if it says 737-800 when you book. So unless you are ready to turn around in the gate when you see a MAX8, you simply can't book that airline. Depending on whose wedding or what job interview you were flying to, turning around at the gate might not be so appealing either.

I did exactly that in the period when we were waiting for the MAX to be grounded. I saw that Southwest owned MAX’s so I cancelled the ticket and rebooked on an airline that didn’t.

Also, since this catastrophe happened because of systemic bad engineering practices how many of the other upgraded systems or software in Boeing airplanes should we trust?

Also of note, the US Air Force has been refusing delivery of the air tankers Boeing is building because of manufacturing sloppiness. Bad engineering and poor quality manufacturing seems to be a hallmark of Boeing these days.