I can totally agree. There’s a reason why every country that had been given the confidential briefing about the F35 wound up buying it. This includes Canada which actually set up the competition for it to win,(requirements that only it could achieve) and even with the new government we will end up buying.

A jack of all trades is a lot better than a master of one. The organic ISR/EW/C2 more than makes up for any shortcomings in AAW and CAS. A mixed wing of F35s and 4 gens would allow the ISR fleet to last longer and support 4th gen wings more with less aircraft. The Israeli’s seem to be going this way with the development of stealthy drop tanks and mixed wing formations.