> what's irrational in not believing that 737 Max is safe?

The millions of miles they've flown without incident.

The key difference this conversation demands is a design versus fabrication or maintenance error. MCAS was a design error. It called into question the entire 737 Max fleet. This looks like a fabrication or maintenance mistake. That calls into question all of the planes similarly fabricated or maintained--those have been grounded. It doesn't affect a 737 Max of a different type, that has been flown for years and been through routine inspections, including of the very bolts suspected to be the cause of this accident.

Caveat: I strongly suspect more than the type 9 need to be looked at. But we do not have evidence that they are unsafe.

interesting question.. how many miles have 737max flown without any incidents?

> Everybody agrees that FAA is not what it used to be, these days the Boeing engineers are basically self-certifying their planes.

I think Boeing /engineers/ would argue that statement and instead tell you that Boeing /management/ is self certifying the planes.

Thankfully, the US is not the world and there are other authorities beyond the FAA.