I will go on record stating that Basings will not happen at EK in the next 10 years.
It simply will not happen for a myriad of reasons.
And I am someone who would do back-flips on Shk Zayed Road if it ever happened. I just cannot see the positives ever coming close to the negatives (from a company POV) of such a policy. The DEMAND vs SUPPLY equation for pilots will never reach a point that it is a requirement. When it comes close, they will simply dip into the 1.5Billion USD profit and up the salary as a last resort.
Look at the difficulties of recruiting in the past 4 years and consider the company's response. They do the minimum required to keep the wheels in motion. Basings would be the maximum, so anyone thinking this will happen in the foreseeable future is..... in my opinion.... deluded.
Even the company has been consistent and clear on the point of basings. (something a little unusual for them) They have never even hinted at such things, and in fact have affectly quashed rumours at the onset.