Having asked the TA to do the booking I didn't feel it appropriate to speak with QF directly. The errors QF made seem to comment on the skill (or lack thereof) of their agent who did my rate. My TA each time corrected the QF error promptly (except for the final issue about the fifth and sixth segments being absolutely the very ones that had to be paid for separately, because they had run us out of time).

Because we cannot expect TA's to work for free, AA is simply not a choice for anyone in the U.S. who needs the services of a Canadian TA because of the new SITI rules. That leaves CX - a perfect choice imho if your itinerary permits it - plus QF and BA. Anecdotally I hear that BA makes Qantas look like rocket scientists, but I don't have any personal experience with their rate desk. A couple of years ago their rtw folks seemed top notch, but the last time I talked with them they'd launched a cost-cutting program and I had the feeling they'd contracted out to the Greyhound bus company for services.

Anyway, 6, not to be discourteous - I really do believe you know much more about these matters than I ever will - but the singed fingies I got from this Qantas experience will keep me out of their camp for some time.