GF is OW Emerald only and a large proportion of GC is OW Sapphire (and their respective BA status equivalent). I'm not sure of BA's thinking w.r.t an airport, but it's not somewhere I want to necessarily spend a lot of time. I haven't arrived at an airport more than 1hr before departure in the last 12 months and use the lounge merely as a pit stop for about 10 mins before rushing to the gate.

Sometimes, yes, I prefer a la carte as it's a much more relaxed experience. When the lounges initially reopened, it was all fairly quiet and quick service. However, my 'travelling style' just isn't catered for with the sheerness slowness, even at 7pm in a deserted GC North (and it still took 10 mins...). I do agree the standard of food has improved dramatically.