A couple of years ago Jim Thorn opined that the JSF "order" was actually a clever plot by Defence to get the jet they really want, the F22.
He cited the same things we are hearing now, cost over-runs and inevitable software budget and time blow-outs.
These blow outs would drastically delay the arrival of the JSF, and the government would be presented with a critical period of time with no JSF available, no F18's avaialble, and the F22 now a fully mature system of which an Australian order would bring the unit cost down.
As conspiracy theories go.... it was a good un.
Any current air-force types here that wouldn't go for the F22 over the JSF any day of the week?