<<it's just that I'm an aerospace journalist, so I'm more than familiar with France's track record...>>
Like how Dassault designed the A320? Or why it is villainous for the French to try to sell the Alpha Jet to the USN or India? Or that the A400M is some kind of French plot (in which case, why is it going to be assembled in Spain?)...
Seriously, I believe that you underestimate Rafale and overstate the ease of adapting Typhoon to a carrier deck.