New rules posted Dec 1. The biggest difference I can see:
Exceptions
i) for services within the USA where no Business Class is offered, Business Class passengers may book and travel in First Class (Booking Code "A"), subject to availability. This provision does not apply on any flight where Business Class exists but is unavailable for booking.
ii) for services within the Middle East, where no Business Class is offered, Business Class passengers may book and travel in A Class on QR, subject to availability. This provision does not apply on any flight where Business Class exists but is unavailable for booking.
Looks like my email worked.
The rule may have changed, but the execution hasn't. Still booking in L in the tool.