+1.
It's a slightly specious argument IMO to imply that the "12hr crew" are "tired" because "all they do is work overtime", when RDW is, of course, entirely optional. I would suggest an 8hr siggie would also be "tired" if they were grabbing every rest day offered. It's the grabbing that's the key factor - not the shift pattern.
I take the point that some peoples' commutes mean a 12hr shift becomes a 16hr+ working day - mine can be on particular days and shifts, depending on traffic - but by the same token, that also means an ostensibly 8hr shift becomes a 12hr working day - and you're working more of them (even on a 'higher quality' 8hr roster, like Sunset's).
As for work/life balance, all I can add is that my current gig is also comfortably the nicest in my NR career to date. Thanks to unprecedented, ORR-prompted staffing levels, I'm averaging five shifts per period (sporadic overtime excepted). There are some excellent opportunities currently available on certain routes if you do your research...