SSSETOWTF,
'From a pilot's perspective' - just about says it all. If the perspective is the stick and rudder skills to takeoff and land on, you are absolutely right. That's why STOVL is a good way to enable Joint Ops. (Unlike going cat and trap). But there's a bit more to it than stick and rudder....
We are currently working with a token force of 5 or 6 aircraft doing short dets on a CVS. Think about what getting a 25 or 30 ship force operating might require - weapon generation, loading, deck handling, strike planning, working within a really joined up littoral campaign - a world away from what JFH have been able to do so far.
The key is that CVF is not merely 'a basing option' - it's a different way of delivering precision strike effect, and it's going to have to be practiced, like all other combat skills. It's either a core skill set or not. Going for 2 CVFs the size of a Kitty Hawk indicates that we are going to have to get serious about it.