Driver, I must say a very good and well considered post!
Sums up most of our situations nicely....
I've always said you must come out here for the right reasons and that most certainly shouldn't be for the perceived 'gloss' of Emirates.
I joined simply to get out of the UK, not just for personal/family reasons, but because the stupid country was pissing me off.
Dubai is by no means perfect, but my family and I are much happier with a better standard of living here than we could ever achieve 'back home'.
For us its working out, for others it doesn't....simple really!