Salute!
Hate tellya, sandiego, but the Super Bug doesn't hold a candle to the "C" Stubbie in terms of range or ordnance delivery accuracy or A2A capability, and there's some "interoperability" aspects of the USMC having Stubbies replace their Bugs. Operating from the boats with the same jet as the USN simplifies logistics as well as basic operating procedures.
In WW2 the USMC flew off the USN boats as well as land strips. And that tradition has continued to this day. The Harrier changed things to some extent, because the USMC could operate off of austere fields that were not possible before. In 'nam, they had to install arresting gear on some fields so they could use their Scooters and Double Uglies other than at Da Nang, Cam Rahn, etc.
The USMC still insists on the ability to operate from austere fields to provide the support of their grunts. The F-35 satisfies that requirement.
The agreement to buy some Cee models makes the overall budget to the U.S. Congress more palitable, and is not a major change from using the Super Bug and Harriers.
Gums sends...