So why would Telecom behave any different in a LLU world?

Because they would have to.

Sure, pick a metric and we'll be a modest percentage better off, however people will still be complaining, and we still won't have what we really want.

Depends what you mean by modest percentage. The whole point of LLU is that other companies can start using their own equipment - and they do. Witness the growth in Australia, USA and the UK where LLU along with a heavy regulation environment is seeing much higher speed delivered to users then here in NZ.

Spend the time, effort and money on building networks, not chasing, implementing and then fighting to actually get something useful from LLU.

I'm an observer, not an ISP but understand what you are saying here. I agree we won't be the same as other countries due to our geography but at least we would achieve real results in Auckland.... (which is not where I live).

Cheers, Jonny.

I'll stop here now before it goes (any further) into a flame war. Ian