SQ have always seemed to operate with more cc than QF. Their seating config on B747 and A380 are pretty similar to QF yet they have always had 1 to 3 more crew. They seem to get good customer service reports and QF's are so so. Could more crew be the answer to improving customer service? I don't know, I'm not management.
MH and TG also have more on the B747 than QF, even before the GFC.