The situation is reminiscent of Moore's law when he said (I paraphrase) by ?2050? the USA could only afford a single superbly capable fighter - the USAF got it on even days, the USN on on odd days and the USMC on February 29th.
Numbers have a n importance of their own.
If the Suez Canal was blocked again "Defender" is a VERY long way from home
As SAS says its not the crews - its the lack of political will to cough up the cash to provide a force capable of doing what the politicians want it to do