I thought about posting a recent experience, decided not to (me too don't want to always seem to be complaining), but read yours and got inspired.

Recent trip of SEA-HNL-SEA. Outbound was pretty good, attentive service, no complaints. Return was "different". Super friendly FC FA, but told us at the outset that she would try to front load all our drinks, etc., because the FA's in the back needed her help (a total of 4 were onboard). She said that they really needed 2 FAs up front but that "we wouldn't want to pay for that". Service started out pretty good but steadily degraded as the flight progressed. At one point I wanted to get my wife a lousy glass of water but took forever to get her attention. She served rows 1 & 3 refills, but when I finally touched her arm to get her attention, she explained that she would after she cleaned everything else but (we are both gold and were traveling paid first).

Consistency

A word not seeming to be found in the AS dictionary...