In summary, Ritz Carlton Maldives offers Kerry Hill architecture and the best service we've ever encountered in this atoll nation.
Perhaps one day Aman will open a property in the Maldives... for the time being though, this is as close as it gets.
Virgin Atlantic have a bottom of the barrel seat on the majority of their aircraft. I can't think of a modern Business Class product that I would be less inclined to fly in than this.
Overall, the experience was certainly one that I'd happily repeat in the future. After having flown both in quick succession, my preference for short haul would definitely be for EVA air over Thai.