Hi kazhere,
You have my deepest sympathies ... I'm in a very similar situation except mine is of my own choosing.
What I've found ...
1) Priority Boarding is actually maintained in VA. While it's painful watching everyone in high-viz vests boarding first and I look on resentfully in my suit, I know that gaining SG on VA is not that far away (less than QF) and is eligible for PB.
2) Although the whole of the front of a VA 737 is blocked to me, it's only an issue if it's raining. Otherwise, whilst the highly visible mob are congregated around seat 5 waiting for the queue to recede, General Boarding has opened and I can be nimble enough to get to the front of the queue and board to my seat conveniently located in row 24. I board through the rear steps and there's plenty of overhead to stow my bag. Similarly at the destination, I can jump off via the rear stairs and be in the Terminal long before most of the green'uns.
3) I've learnt that the VA Lounge in Adelaide is certainly not worth attaining status for
4) I've rediscovered newspapers since the Inflight Wireless system won't play on my BB
5) I've discovered that I can get a Tax Receipt for my G&T and Chicken Salad sandwich and so can claim that back from my corporate Bean-Counters.
There - it's not all doom'n'gloom and whilst the VA Terminal at Sydney resembles a down-market shopping centre (hadn't been there since the AN days!) there's a temporary buzz of boarding the jungle-jet back to MEL as opposed to a clapped-out 767.
Enjoy the positives life brings you!!
Regards,
BD