We did a similar "A380 in First" short hop before Christmas.
Thoroughly enjoyed the experience although we both agree with your comments on the food. The gold I can get past, most important to me on long haul is space and privacy -- the EK suite would be the way to go on ultra long haul for those very reasons, indeed this is also when the shower would come into its own.
All in all, I am very pleased to have ticked it off my bucket list and would try EK suites in the future on long haul if the price was right.