L1011
I don't know who is paying the leases for the extra 777's (Airbus or Emirates), all I heard that the discounts Emirates normally swing were not in place. Whether the 346 is competitive or not was a decision asked before the A380 delay was announced. That decision (to not confirm the A346 order), would surely have been reassessed with the latest developments.
Dunerider
Again I don't know why you would select an aircraft type when it has been openly critisised by other carriers and prefered 777 option exist. There are always other factors though : getting the a/c on the national register, ETOP's approval for a company that cannot maintain it domestically, leasing/finance costs, parent company influence, availability, manufacture incentives or payments like EK gets for the A345.
Who knows everything is political these days!