On a four hour flight I don't find the 73H J seating to be inferior.
Remember, T-T has been bleeding the airlines dry for years - before throwing Jetconnect onto the route full time, Qantas and Air New Zealand had a significant joint venture knocked back.
So QF went with Jetconnect, NZ went with Virgin Blue/Australia and now QF are doing it with EK (The T-T required a separate approval to the DXB stuff.)
Early last month I flew on the QF186 ~8pm. I used the AKL EK lounge 'til it closed at 6:30pm then went back to the QF Flounge.
One thing I did notice was the QF Flounge catering had improved significantly since I wa last there in June - there were a lot more food option as well as Champagne.
Maybe it's the fuel price giving a little more latitude or maybe QF are triying to keep 'their' PAX away from the lounge- probably the former mainly.