I know this has been a love/hate topic regarding the PE seats. I really enjoyed my PE experience on the 77E. The middle seats give you much more personal area IMO since you share a wedge with your partner and can store things under it.

For only $1000CAD more, I would not hesitate to go for the PE product personally.

Our limit for a "good deal" from LAX to AKL on NZ was around $2600-$2700 USD PP in PE FYI.