Having travelled on 4 AA flights a couple of years ago (including red-eye from SFO-JFK) and two DL flights last year, there is an element of truth to what you say. The service on the AA flights was appalling and the planes were old (757's).
With respect to VA, do some of the Oz/VH planes have slightly different fit-outs? Some with adjustable headrests and some without? I vaguely remembered that I had been on some that didn't have adjustable headrests, but the two planes I flew on in the last week (one Oz and one NZ plane) both had adjustable headrests, so I figured my memory must be wrong.
Didn't realise EK still operated planes with that fit-out!
Agree regarding the pitch, but disagree regarding them being comfortable and those being of wider girth having the most issue - I am very tall, but slim and find them very uncomfortable!