I had many of the same questions that you did, prior to first flying on a CRJ. I'm glad to see that these aircraft are replacing many of the older "puddle jumpers" that were frequently used on regional routes. The planes are very similar in flight, to most any other large aircraft that I've been on before. Space, in general seems to be a bit reduced, on-board--Lack of headroom in the aisle could be an inconvenience to a tall person. Otherwise, I've found these to be great planes on which to ride.