If you want to see what shorthaul onboard service should REALLY look like, try Jet Airways. 36" pitch, comfy seats, excellent food and service (i.e. pre take off drinkies, sweets plus 2 hotel towels runs). Admittedly things fall off before and after boarding.

CX from TPE to HKG and SQ from KUL to SIN are equally impressive with the ground handling to match.

In comparison to any of those, CE really is economy with china plates.