I know - even if it wasn't expensive to operate, the logs chain for an a/c that age wouldn't be sustainable for RN alone. Shame how the good platforms (F14, A6, S3) always end up being replaced by something allegedly cheaper, but less capable (at least airframe-wise).
I was thinking more along the lines of whatever comes after C2/E2, although given that Hawkeye is still rolling off the line, I wonder what sort of tanker a KC2 would make? Probably just too slow I suspect, but there's your MASC, COD and AAR all in the one similar airframe.