If they hire DEC it will be very discouraging for many F/O, and another thing is that i´m not sure if they will find so many DEC with rating in B777 or A380 willing to join EK.
I think the new minimums are the correct way if they can't find pilots, get more pilots and slowly upgrade the ones in house. otherwise altering the seniority will create some problems, many F/O that currently are not so unhappy could start considering to go.
Few days ago I got an email from EK that I have been shortlisted and placed in a holding pool, but I think they sent that email to almost everyone that applied.
The shortage of pilots is going to affect many airlines and I am sure more airlines are going to follow EK.