Ah, I remember fondly the days when AC 33/34 was a new service (and those same 200LRs were several years newer themselves). It was a pleasant journey back then, without the impossible-to-upgrade issues of today, and when the domestic service was sufficiently pleasant that YYZ-YVR flyers didn't clamour for the transcon pods the way they do now.
My most relaxing AC 33 flight Down Under was up front on a high-Y upgrade - I slept almost 8 consecutive hours. These days I generally prefer a connection to avoid the conditions the OP described above.
One memorable journey between Canada & Australia took almost two weeks (via Alaska/Siberia) but that had little to do with Air Canada delays, and more due to the idiosyncrasies of weather and Russian ground handlers in Anadyr: "Da, we fuel you right away...next Thursday..."
It might have been quicker to go by boat.