The other cheaper alternative they went for was Airbus over Boeing.
However they were just two voices at the table and the aircraft selection 'committee' (not sure of their precise make up or whether they Flight Ops and Engineering have a vote at the table or just provide 'information') decided to go with the A330.
Did your section have anything to do with that twiggs?
It's hard to imagine that the old 'cartridge' film system gave fewer problems that the much vaunted IFE system installed......At least most of the flights in those days were shorter....