Balance, I disagree.
Max braking should not have been required, but when the runway end was approaching, whether due to deep touchdown or water on the runway, max braking for the conditions would have been used. Surely they had to, would you barke normally as the runway disappeared under the nose onto the stop way with what ever is past that, grass, fence, HIAL the next stop?
Then as I said due to heavy braking and the pax observing the runway end as they turned, even a dopey passenger would realize all was not normal.
I'm not sure why the media focusses on QF, tall poppy? Advertising revenue would o doubt affect the editorial input. Maybe QF should spend more money on advertising = less media scrutiny.