Omark,
Patently not true.
Orders from AF (747 operator), LH (ditto), QANTAS (ditto), Malaysian (ditto), Singapore (ditto), Virgin (guess what, ditto again!)... are you seeing a pattern here yet? No? Thai (747 operator) announcing that they will. FedEx wanting something to replace MD11s on their higher density routes. Emirates, Qatar et al are exceptions but are patently trying to lift traffic from the "traditional" long haul airlines and want a tool that will allow them to do it. How do you differentiate yourself from the existing airlines? Price will do it nicely, thank you very much. Oh yes, and making damn sure no-one else can get the aircraft into their fleets because you have so many production slots!
Your 777 and A330/A340 statement really doesn't hold water when you look at who has ordered it, who is interested in it and which of them operate 747s today. Ultimately, I believe BA will do it, and I believe JAL and CX will do it for their long haul as well. NW may well go that route, but United's days as a serious long haul player may be numbered, so they may well not do and rely on LH feeding the Chicago hub with A380s then dispersing that traffic throughout the US.