What does the debate about whether or not Emirates receives government subsidies have to do with the customer service offered onboard, which is what jetlaggedpurser was talking about?
It has a lot to do with it. There is a cost associated to offering better customer service and the airline that receives a subsidy is accordingly better placed to procure a higher standard of cabin crew at higher salaries who are less likely to go on strike or be sullen and surly, and to spend more on passenger comfort amenities, and so on. They can also roster the CC more favourably, which costs money, accomodate them in better hotels, and so it goes on.
I'm not saying EK does receive a subsidy, along with most of us, I don't know, but there does seem to be a groundswell of opinion implying that in some way, they do.