I'm a bystander within this thread but I'll be coming to Qatar within the next couple of weeks to fly a desk... my flying days are now over!
Having spent thirty-odd years flying large aeroplanes I can tell you that the good old days of flying are over. My previous airline was much the same as any other... crew control are given the rules to roster you by and they simply apply those rules; if they don't, they get some grief too! The 'bean-counters' are truly the fly in the ointment because it's they who determine the number of crew to efficiently fly your route network. As a general rule, cabin crew aren't the best paid people in any given airline, but they too have a need to make advancements and that they too do their very best to work within the given guidelines/rules. Given that the Cabin Crew work on the 'front line' and are face to face with your customers you'd think that they'd have a salary to match the quality of service that they're required to give; but probably not!
The rules are set in place by the QCAA (Flight Time Limitations) and I can tell you that they are identical to the UKCAA, so you'd think that there would be no difference in rostering to that of any other UK airline? The bottom line here is, I guess, is that you've agreed to those rules, and if the rules so dictate that you work for a maximum of 900 flying hours per annum... that's exactly what the airline wants from you; that's the commercial sense of the airline and it's called profitability! Therefore, if your airline is experiencing growth, you can expect to get close to those limitations. It's interseting to note though, that those 900 hours are 'flying hours' and not 'duty hours', which can, and will, make a whole lot of difference to your working week/month/year.
In conclusion, no matter whether you fly for QA or any other UK based airline, the rules are the same; therefore, it's up to you to decide whether or not you want to work in the sunshine or the rain! There are of course quite different cultures within each region which may or may not be your preference; but it's all about choice... your choice. My choice is to escape a crime riddled UK where it's not safe to even make eye contact with a hooded youth, because at best, you'll get some abuse, or at the other end of the scale, get a knife in your ribs! From a governmental point of view, if you stay in the UK you'll be taxed (robbed) to the extreme. As I've said previously, it's all about choice... as far as I'm concerned it's a 'no brainer'; I'm getting out of here!