GG:
It's all about massaging the egos of the smartest men in the room.
Too true.
If I was cynical, I would attribute QFs decision to buy the A380 in its current form to the Board and senior managements preference for the hotels and restaurants of London and Paris over Seattle and St Louis.
(maybe the delights of Hamburg as well? - just kidding)
This is simply a variation on the old refrain in the days of CAC and GAF to blame RAAF foreign purchasing decisions on the lure of associated international postings.