There were serious A380 problems in the introductory phase too. If you look way back to the 1960s, there were serious problems with the Boeing 727 at first -- the high tail and rear-mounted engines meant it presented pilots with new and unfamiliar flying characteristics, and there were several crashes. But the 727 went on to become a workhorse for 25-30 years.

I'm sure the 787 will overcome its problems. It represents a lot of new technology and assembly procedures. Launch issues were to be expected.

Boeing and Airbus both source subassemblies from contractors around the world, so there is no integral quality difference between the two products. Design philosophy, yes; quality and reliability, no.