Thank you for that link. I wish I had checked here an hour ago before a not very helpful chat with QR. All regarding cancelled flights.

They would not rebook me to a later date quoting their rebooking policy was a "courtesy" and only possible if the original booking class was available, else only rebookable until 14 days after original flight date (connecting ticket to the UAE, so obviously also not even available the next 14 days). And for a direct flight to/from DOH they would only offer me a half a day earlier flight on their own metal, when I explicitly asked for other options they said "that's the only available flight".

So clearly, that policy is either not known, or intentionally not applied unless a passenger will specifically refer to it. Both possible from my experience with QR - and quite likely even both true.

And to reply to OP's question from my POV: I would not, if I didn't have to go directly to DOH for personal reasons. For connecting flights, I would avoid QR.