You're clearly a mine of 'best way to do things'. I guess I got fixated on Global Explorer because that way you get to use the Qantas codeshare on Air Tahiti from Papeete to Auckland. Though I also considered Santiago-Easter Island-Lima-Auckland and buying a separate ticket from Auckland to some palm fringed islands.
And Amman makes sense - now that Easyjet are flying London-Amman the previously crazy prices on that route are set to tumble so access would be much cheaper/easier than South Africa.

Sorry if my ramblings seem naive, I'm new to this world!