Many thanks for the additional thoughts eightblack. All carefully noted ! ^
I was going to ask why it is that the EK lounge is not only of (relatively) poor quality and cramped, and yet the QF lounge is by comparison a luxurious oasis of calm. But then I deduced that your key point is that the EK lounge is a combined J/F, whereas the QF lounge you've described is a F-only facility (and of course in one of their twin flagship locations, the other being SYD)
All that said, it's disappointing that EK have not addressed these shortcomings in what is a fairly high profile, business-orientated station such as MEL. I'm not actually based out in Oz, but was here not that long ago and used the EK lounge a couple of times in SYD and must say I didn't think it was too bad at all - even if significantly below the standard of say, LHR (a more commercially more important station of course). But perhaps I was just lucky to be there at a quiet spell.
Ps RadioGirl - thanks for your input too ^