disaster to this point. 

However, I remember when the headlines about the 787 program were much more dire than things I am reading about the MAX.  Boeing rolled out the 787-8 and it was nowhere near flyable and held together with hardware store grade fasteners.  It was years late and was subsequently grounded after deliveries to ANA and other airlines. 

And where is Boeing now?  The preeminent supplier of widebody aircraft.  And the 787?  One of the most popular widebodies of all time.  That thing prints money for Boeing.

Keep in mind, other than Airbus, people want Boeing back where it was.  Part of the reason that many airlines can offer such cheap fares is that they have never had such competitive pricing on frames.  Most orders (particularly narrowbodies) end up deeply discounted just to win the customer.  The airlines desperately want two strong manufacturers so that they can always play them off against each other.

Yes, the MAX has huge issues.  Yes, they will take a lot of work to overcome.  And Boeing is going to be deeply discounting aircraft and creating very generous lease packages.  But the hyperbole reminds me of the Mark Twain legend - rumors of Boeing's demise have been greatly exaggerated.  I suspect people buying Boeing stock right now, are going to be very happy in the next 3-5 years.