If I can add a different view as to why the Rooivalk is not taken seriously. In the early 90's the British were intent on buying an attack helicopter, and as the date was drawing near for bids to be in, the newly acceptable South Africans (having just abandoned apartheid) asked to be allowed to bid. They got an extension to the date for submission.
I was working with a team that was trying to convince the South Africans that they need UK-based help to make sure they understood the politics and technical things that needed to be answered for the proposal. They ignored the advice and submitted a bid prepared completely on their own. My understanding was that their proposal was very, very poorly received as it was so bad.
I was among the first journalists to fly the Rooivalk, before it got it's avionics and systems - it was a very nice handling airframe. The systems I was shown seemed to be pretty capable at the time (early 90s) and had some good thinking and design. But the whole process of selling helicopters is based on a lot more than just performance and price - the customer has to be at least familiar with the product - and how many exchange visits to South Africa for people to see the machine have their been?