Nigel;
Completely agreed with everything you said - apologies if you thought otherwise.
I've seen it suggested elsewhere that BHX could be being lined up for service from the x2 class A380 which incidentally comes into service around the same time they cut first class. Plus if no extra cargo space is being sold they won't really be losing out by switching to an A380 either.
Could BHX support x2 777 and a x2 class A380 in 12 months? Who knows? I could however see EK announcing an A380 into BHX if they thought QR were about to make a move. To be fair I'm just happy BHX is getting a third daily flight, anything else is just an added bonus.