In my opinion, I think you're being a little unfair on them Duncan. Try getting the same coverage from another provider, I don't like your chances.
We live on the road permanently in our van (Grey Nomads), and I use the Bogpond 7.2 Home Network Gateway Modem connected to a GME AE915 WCDMA aerial. We find there isn't many places we can't get reception, so much so that quite often we have no service on our blue tick NextG phones but can still manage internet connection with the aerial.
At present I'm sending this from the banks of Lake Maraboon in the QLD Central Highlands not too bad in my books!
Maybe you need to look for a work around like an external aerial? I do believe we tend to look a bit unfairly on Telstra at times, this is a vast continent to try and give full coverage to in sparsely populated areas.
