I would certainly not expect game changer F on this route unless it was a complete accident. It eats a lot of aircraft utilization and they even moved the newer business off of it, for a while it was running with the new J cabin. The reason for the older frames is because the route requires crew rest and only the very old an very new 777 have them.
I also agree withe the ground experience at EWR, it is terrible these days. Terminal B is old and awful and the SAS lounge is no good, at least the old VA lounge had decent food, albeit no windows. Don't get there early expecting anything resembling an F experience.
Thanks for that insight, did not realize this aspect about crew rest and that connection so I won't get my hopes up.
It will be my first time in F so still looking forward but realize it's not the "full" experience. Definitely noted on the ground experience at EWR