I've flown with a few newly transferred Captains who have come straight from 330. No 18 months/1000 hours on type.
Of course 330 FO's should expect to do at least some time on the 380 before getting an upgrade.
A shortened type rating, command course and new routes/regions is too much all at once in this training environment - they'd be a liability for 6 months, so they may as well do those 6 months in the RHS where they can be get some basic experience/knowledge/confidence before switching seats. And really, they should recognise that.
2500 hrs on type is too much. 18 months is still too much. But 6 months would be sensible.
The 35yo upgrade requirement is coming from GCAA, not from EK. It's not their choice. I imagine they'll be pushing for an exemption, and expect in the short-term that it'd be granted.