Boeing is haunted by a 50-year-old feature of 737 jets

Metal folding stairs, APU, ability to use limited load bearing runways and aprons. Targeted for use at austere airfields, unlike the 707.

At least as late as 2011 you could get the stairs as an option. There's a closeout plate on the fuselage below the boarding door if you pass on the option.

Lufthansa launched Boeing 737-100 service on 10th February, 1968. "...early Cold War"? Cold War officially was from 1947 to 1991. Additionally, the article states "Ground crews hand-lifted heavy luggage into the cargo holds in those days, long before motorized belt loaders were widely available."?
Motorized belt luggage loaders were common place in 1958.
The integral air-stair performed well in surface temperatures as low as -38C. Otherwise, a fair news article.

I read where there is an option to have dual AOA sensors, which are on most of the US fleet and would identify a failed sensor. Both accident aircraft only had one AOA sensor.

Pilot training is an obvious issue as well as it is reported the Lion Air jet had an identical incident the day before where a jumpseat pilot instructed the crew how to disconnect so some pilots do know how to respond.

Also read that engineers within FAA certification were concerned that the aerodynamics of the MAX-8 were sufficiently different to warrant a new type certificate instead of adding it to the existing TC. The ODA process is also going to come under scrutiny here.

I wouldn’t say so because latest version of B737s like 900ER or MAX and first B737-100s or 200s only have in common “737”. Besides “737” I don’t think there is much more.
Please, correct me if I’m wrong.