Mr Cat, the difference is that if you go to CX, in 10 years time you will be left seat on some superjet like the 787 or A380. If you go to SYD on a Dash 8, in 10 years you will have moved to the dizzying heights of the Q400 if the Jungle jets don't see it off first. Not bagging it, though I reckon that type of flying would have some people brain-dead in 10 years.
Don't bag the CX deal as they have been providing bloody great careers for gwalios for 50 years now and will continue to do so for many more. The Honkers citizen stuff is a smokescreen. They advertise for locals first and when they don't get enough, they can justify spending money on training foreigners and also get X number of work permits.
Lifestyle wins for some. Fame and fortune for others.