I'm flying less EK these days due to fares increasing. But I'm still frequently in DXB, and there's nothing wrong with the airport unless you don't have lounge access. If you can use F/J check in, there are rarely queues longer than a minute or two, ticketing desks have always been available when I've needed them, F/J security is efficient (occasionally transfer security can be backed up, but walk a bit further down the terminal to a different screening area where there may not be as many flights just arrived) and the lounges are pretty good.

Yes it's a big airport, but I timed the journey from the B lounge to the far end of A once - I've forgotten the time, but it was perfectly reasonable.