Am I correct in thinking that they have been charging higher fares
Don´t think so. My A380 flight last month was a real bargain, but it was a Lufthansa code share flight anyway.
Don´t know about business or Suite, but Eco had a 100% load factor on that flight.
Trouble free and on time ops into and out of Sydney
Would not support that statement 100%, but at least low trouble operation. Prior to my flight a crowd of mechanics was working for at least 3 hours on engine no.3. No problem, as SIA has planned for long turnaround times at this stage of operation, 14 hrs flying and 10hrs ground time every day. Flight arrived on time, but leaving the plane was delayed due to a medical incident during the flight and Australian quarantaine rules. Of course the chance of such event is directly proportional to the number of pax on board, hence it is high on the A380.
Most amazing is the quiet cabin! Otherwise (at least in Eco) it is just an aircraft.