A fascinating and useful thread. Maybe my standards are too low, but I've never had any cause for complaint from the service I've received from any of the 40+ carriers I've flown with (apart from a few 'behind the curtain' in the bad old days). I don't expect in-flight catering to be a gastronomic experience (even in F!), I don't expect to see a fixed rictus on the face of CC at all times (I realise that it may be their nth flight of the day) and on the rare occasions that my request for a refill of my G&T goes unanswered, I put it down to the fact that they're busy on a full flight.
That having been said, on the three or four occasions when I've felt that I've received service 'above and beyond' - true excellence - they've all been with BA (and in economy) except one with NZ.