Interesting post.

Two recommendations in order to improve your premium cabin experience. After all, somebody (probably not you) is paying serious money for it.

1.) Choose airlines that treat all F and C pax like F and C pax. An airline that treats "upgraders" differently than "paying" pax who are all travelling in the same cabin is ridiculous.

2.) Fly airlines that usually (that's 95-99% of all cases) don't run out of certain food choices in F or C. Airlines regularly running out of food choices in premium cabins aren't offering real C or F service. They are merely pretending. The same applys to low-quality airlines that cater so little choices in C and F that they actually have to prioritize menu choices by FFP status.

That said, it's perfectly OK to fly airlines that don't offer flatbed seats in international Business Class (or even First on certain a/c), often run out of food choices, serve pre-departure drings in plastic cups, feature plastic knives in F, have surley FAs that disappear after meal service, etc. etc. – if the ticket is either MUCH cheaper than those of the premium competition or you can confirm an easy upgrade from a cheap booking class in advance. In the end, it's all about value.