The big transformation at the South terminal is the security area and the by and large polite helpful staff, the LHR equivalent have faces like a slapped arse.
Credit where credit is due. I use only the South terminal and the Security area bears no resemblance to what it was like before where you'd often arrive into the terminal from the station to be met by a bloke holding a pole at the top of which a notice proclaimed "End of Security Queue". Kudos also to the staff who make what is probably the worst part of air travel into something bearable and they do it with a good heart. I'd certainly recommend it to jackieofalltrades over the LHR setup.
On the other hand, and with so many good things happening there, it is difficult to understand how, in this day and age, providing a simple-to-use fast free WiFi seems to be beyond their capabilities.