Your whole argument is based on the validity of the assumption that, with just a little more money only another $150 million or so and just a little more time only another 2 years or so - theyd have got there.
They are already there! they have been for some time. They are still Airworthy and ready to fly.. the final piece to be completed was converting an analogue ASI signal to a digital signal for the mission computer... apart from that its 100% airworthy.
the decisions to keep them grounded, and delay the programs, have come from the bureaucracy