Nice report, thanks!
Having flown UX EMB 170 flights and UA TPACs to SYD quite a few times and read a lot of the UA board complaints, I have to say I found your perspective refreshing. The Shuttle America flights are nice -- and the planes are quite clean. The service to SYD can be great. UA folks may get a bit jaded but all in all these can be enjoyable flights -- and it sounds like the price was quite reasonable as well.
Thanks again,
-C