Guide me pls on why PFI, inherently, is a crock of poo? Is your objection that you prefer to own title in kit? What does that matter? Or do you assume civilian involvement in the operation will screw it up?
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In days gone by we bought the kit and tried hard to turn it into capability. Kit is pretty, but is not itself of military value. PFI leaves ownership with the Provider, who may take it away when we're done with it and find residual value, where we junk things in Wales. Till then he gives us hoses dangling in defined places and times in the sky. We don't care how he does it, and don't pay him if he doesn't.
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You may respond that he very likely will not be there, where and when wanted. What makes you think an all-uniformed set-up, kit owned outright, would deliver airliner-types on task better than a joint operation? See: LTU TriStar 500: a fleet of 2 aircraft sustained daily Dusseldorf-Los Angeles, a 23 hour rotation, >15 years. >4,000 hr utilisation, p.a/c, p.a. Or, for the oldies, see Dan Dare putting more hours on Comet C.4 in 5 years than RAF had in 13. Sure, they had 5 crews p.a/c, bits sitting on Main Base, flight spares kits, pack-ups at frequent ports, and an Approved Maintenance Schedule tailored to the needs of the operation. But that's the whole point.
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Upfront capital outlay is part of the thinking. But you are another: uniforms are precious. You, alone, go in harm's way. You command more skill and resource than Grandpa-pilot ever did. Any task that can be competently discharged by a civilian should be. Same thinking as Teaching Assistant, Nursing Technician, Community Support Officer (those mini-Plods). Good thing, surely?
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If you think PFI is dearer, do a quick sum: Commander, cost per flying hour-in-command (or hour-on-shift, SEngO, or Logistician, or any uniform...)from Officer Selection Centre, net of wash-out, through active career, on through the >30 years you intend to draw pension.