"I was there until 1976 and then posted to Binbrook onto the Mods Team. So over 6 years working on Lightnings and never heard one pilot bitch about the plane, not so the maintenance staff. It was built like the proverbial brick outhouse and every component was just squeezed in. The designers thought access was not a priority.
I met a lot of people who were glad to be away from the Lightning for the very reasons you say.
As for the mods, spent many (un) happy hrs doing the fire integrity mod programme on the things, the only saving grace, if such it can be called, was the location, Gut, which had its attractions after work. The "delights " of setting up the fuel couplings and those little shell like things remain seared in my memory.
PS, sorry about the little fuel spill in ASF at Binbrook one day, but, the fountain it produced was quite impressive.