Think your mood re EK is based solely upon your own terms of reference.
If you come from a country where the sun does not shine much, your passport is of the right colour to allow your kids to get a school place easily, and you luck in with accomodation, you will have a great time, and wonder why others would think of complaining.
If however, you are use to seeing the sun in the sky without the clouds, and you have to wait for months/years to get the kids a place at school or your accomodation is on the airfield cargo loading area your impression may be somewhat different.
As has been said before, the airline bean counter is the ruin of this industry. Many at EK are looking elsewhere. But they will only leave if the deal is a lot better than what they are on now. Makes sense really. Think its the same in most airlines.
To come here thinking this is holy grail of airline jobs is very wrong. It is just another airline job....with all the problems that come along with this kind of work. However you have no union to protect you, and a contract written in sand.
The mood has changed dramatically in past few years.
Many of the fellas I fly with state that things are much different from what they were lead to believe from both the company, and from their mates that were already here. Quite a few are uncertain if it was the correct decision to pack up and move to the desert. Then again, some others want to stay here forever.