Well, as a 737 pilot with thousands of hours flying them. I can say the 737 is a VERY safe airliner.
I don't like to speak ill of the dead, but lack of pilot experience and poor training and decisions are what really the
issue here.
MCAS is a new system for the MAX, but the there is a boldface (memory) procedure that deals with this issue. It has been on every 737 for decades. Every pilot trains for it. It's not complicated and would solve the issue in short order.
While it's true that Boeing did not have the right, left, and standby flight instrument systems do not talk to each other, it does give an AOA disagree warning on the cockpit displays.
The aircraft has 3 independent flight instrumentation systems. Its basic training to quickly crosscheck the 3 systems and determine the "odd man out" and act accordingly.
As a professional pilot we are required to be able to fly our aircraft with a major system failed. This is a minor system.
I understand the startle factor, but basic airmanship is expected.
Pitch, power, airspeed. Words to live by in aviation. Set an engine power. Set a pitch angle. An airspeed will follow.
On a 737 its 10 deg nose up with the flaps out and 80% engine power. Set that and you will be safe and climbing at a reasonable rate.
Every pilot should know them by memory.
The Lion Air aircraft had multiple failures of the MCAS system in the days prior. It's criminal that the previous aircrews did not report it to maintenance for repair. The accident crew NEVER did the runaway stabilizer memory procedure.
A simple 3 step procedure that would have solved the problem in short order.
Ethiopian air suffered a bird strike on the runway that caused the AOA vane to separate from the aircraft.
The crew started the Runaway stabilizer procedure, but never finished it and ended up reversing their actions and reengaging the stab trim system. To compound the issue, they left the engines at takeoff thrust and accelerated to 340 knots making manual trimming almost impossible.
The bottom line is I would have no problem putting my family on a 737 MAX tomorrow with 2 qualified pilots.
I have flown the simulator with the stickshaker going off continuously due to a failed sensor while manually trimming the aircraft. Its not fun, but It can be done and done well.
The news media like a villain, Boeing will take some blame. There is no reason for the left and right flight instruments not to talk to each other. It's an easy fix and what is coming, along with limiting the nose down trim authority of MCAS.
The real issue here is qualified, experienced pilots. Many foreign airlines in developing countries don't have the supply of pilots available to them. In the past they would hire qualified pilots from developed countries, but that supply has dried up. The shortage of pilots is very real. Qualified/experienced pilots are leaving the smaller airlines to work at major airlines all over the world because the money/working conditions are so much better.