If there is any comfort to be found in it, Gatwick was not a decision based on a competition between them and MAN. Malaysian planned the extra schedule for LHR, but the slots weren't available for it to work.
Whether the decision to open LGW is a good one remains to be seen, although with the various EZY options at LGW, I would have thought it might become the "backpackers'" route of choice both ways.
But as we all know, high loads and low yields don't necessarily spell success.
Stoney