But several other operators provide first or business class seats to the pilots in addition to the standard crew rest. BA and UA for example. And they are not flying sectors as long as QF will.
As pointed out previously by another poster, BA don't provide a business seat in the cabin where the crew rest facility contains an "equivalent" seat, where this is not the case (747 and 777 without proper bunk area) they provide a business seat which can be moved to first if available at close-out.
Nothing wrong with arguing for one though, especially on a sector like PER-LHR!