Have these flights been full in Y when you get the op-upgrades? Obviously, an EBG is first in line for the op-upgrade when the cabin fills up.

However, I don't agree with the idea that *Gs are not treated well by other airlines. You are obviously after their own in the pecking order but otherwise it's fine. I fly LH quite a bit on *A airpasses and they put *Gs in the front of the plane and block seats. On my last trip 6/8 segments had block seats; the others had full planes. One flight was notably full and I had one of the few middle seats blocked.