GGLwannabe the rules have not changed very much since your problems some ten years ago. There actually appears have been a very slight softening in the rules. It appears that QR have introduced rather high No show fees that you would have to pay to reactivate the remaining flights. I have not heard of anyone actually doing so, so it is a matter of conjecture on my part.
Sometimes the No show fees are higher than the fare paid. For example LHR-BKK Economy saver fare GBP 397, No show fees for ticket class for sector GBP 491! For BKK-LHR the fare is GBP327 and No show still GBP 491!