My understanding is not that at all. From what I've read the engines that were the whole point of the plan just didn't work physics wise because they were too

My understanding is not that at all. From what I've read the engines that were the whole point of the plan just didn't work physics wise because they were too big for the 737 frame that their required placement moved the center of gravity to a bad spot. Instead of scraping the idea as they should've they did a software fix. You can't solve a bad aircraft design with software. You can patch it but it leaves you open to all sorts of issues. Issues we've now clearly seen have killed people. Issues that people have claimed were known about (how would the engineers not know?) but were sweep under the rug in the name of profits. When people knowingly endanger other's lives in the name of profits they should face a trial and be judged.