Thanks sbiddle and zebranz!

I have the time; it's the misery capacity I lack.

Slimline seats don't give me solace, as I need the cushioning. Luckily, being forewarned, I can bring a seat cushion.

The money involved in the NZ coach flight isn't enough of a factor - I would assume crummy coach on a non-stop is better than marginally better coach on a connection with longer butt in seat time. But maybe there's space on QF in J on award (my sense of QF J pricing is that money difference is big, and hence a factor for me). But otherwise, exit row on the non-stop seems like the least of evil