Spike, EK conditions are not that bad in comparison to SOME other airlines except that to put up with living here, they should be about double what they are. Since you live in your home country you do not have to experience the lifestyle here and it IS a lifestyle.
The company ensures working for EK is a lifestyle by exerting influence over ALL aspects of your time in this place, but they do not pay a premium for that privelege.
It's at the point where a lot of people have decided it's no longer worth the trade-off and are heading home. Also, in all likelihood and although you might think your management are bad, you simply most likely haven't experienced anything like the lying, back-stabbing, cheating, sleazy management we enjoy here.