There are two factors that make the launch of the A380 different to every other a/c in history (be it narrow or wide)
- The Internet allows public forums to discuss matters that, before, remained in offices and pubs.
- The news media did not report every little failure and problem. Many media owners now direct their editors to find fault where non exists and turn up anything they can find to be of presumed 'national' or 'public' interest.
The media have no perspective of the introduction of a passenger aircraft (of any size) and have zero interest in comparing the issue with the launch of other Airbus and Boeing a/c. Fortunately, by next week, this particular article will be overtaken by some other manufactured crisis and the engineers will get on fixing the machine.
IIRC, VS were the launch for the A340-600 and decided not to do it again. Being the lead or early customer means that you save on purchase cash and then spend it on salaries and overtime. That's life in the airline world and there is nothing new here.