Further digression: I have often speculated that if the A-6F Intruder II had survived, we wouldn't have needed much else in the MidEast for the past 17 years.
Further to the range discussion: AAR and external tanks are not very relevant. There are no plans to resurrect external fuel for the F-35, and there is no QE-class-compatible tanker in prospect that is any use.
Also, as far as I am aware, the reference F-35B mission is all-hi-altitude... so the range will be lower unless you're just dropping two 1000 pound JDAMs on coordinates.