Just as a slight aside, I got 'spoken at' about the exit row by a cabin crew member while being seated in the exit row the other day. I was treated as if I had no idea what an exit row was, in a rather patronising tone - I have never encountered this before.
I was also unhappy with the way there was not a word of apology from the ground crew when a number of passengers including myself missed our connecting flight. This is the first time I was 'properly dissatisfied with how I was handled by QF, although I think it could have been because he was just wanting to go home as quickly as he could.
In addition, there was recently an occasion where an obese passenger was seated in the exit row. He was really obese - although he was able to fasten the seat belt without an extension belt around his pelvis, his belly was protruding so much that there was no way he could have fit through the over-wing exit on a 737 which is pretty narrow. His mobility was also no good, especially in a small space. While being 'theoretically acceptable' (as he did not require an extension seat belt), it was not very sensible IMHO. I have never had this sort of concern on QF flights before.
I never used to have a reason to get annoyed with Qantas in terms of the service level or politeness, but in the last month, there were quite a few issues. In a way, it does feel like 'something not-so-tangible' is being diluted. Perhaps it's about cutbacks etc leaving QF staff in less than good mood. I know there is quite a lot of disquiet within QF, and I can really sympathise with them.
But annoying WPs (or anyone else for that matter) is not a good way for their dissatisfaction to manifest itself - far from it, in fact - a few more unsatisfactory services and what I consider non-sensible decisions that may affect safety (such as seating unsuitable pax in the exit row) will soon be driving me away from QF, just as I am bucking the trend and upgrading my travel standards and budgets, having made the decision never to do a flight over 4 hours in whY or PE again as long as my finances permit (and thus would have got them extra revenue).