Hi Brink, congratulations on finding your voice in the FT community!

I'm sure that someone will come along who can run a load check request for you, but in future please use this thread to make requests according to the wiki. I'll try help you out with some information.

1. EK changed their policy regarding op-ups last year and priority is now given to those who paid the highest fare for their tickets and platinum members. After that, you might be in with a chance but imo that route is usually heavy with plats. Being on saver fares puts you down at the bottom. I assume you're already travelling in J as you only get to upgrade one cabin class (unless you get an op up and then use miles).

2 and 4: you'll need to find a kind person with an expert flyer subscription to look that up for you.

3: These things are always a value judgment on behalf of the person paying for it. For example: I'm going to pay into the DXB F lounge next week because I really cannot be bothered leaving the airport for my 9h transit despite STPC (I've already done this 6x this year and want a change of scene). For that I get 4h, hoping for longer. I want to sleep on a (flatter than the J lounge) lounger, shower (without the massive queues), eat (from the a la carte menu), smoke cigars and perhaps drink some nice wine (which is really where i'll get my money's worth). For that, I'll happily pay $100. Think what you want out of your lounge experience and then put a price on it.

Safe travels, hopefully someone else can help you out with loads.