How is award availability on EK flights using CO miles in comparison to using EK only miles at the standard (non-peak) award levels?

Whether deserved or not, EK is becoming sort of notorious in some parts for not making seats on EK flights available using EK miles at standard award levels even when the cheapest regular paid seats are available in a given class of service on an EK flight. [EK is pushing hard to migrate customers toward its "peak" award travel pricing even when very cheap seats are available thru EK or other distribution channels.]