Langball,
Super Hornet can and does use afterburner just like the original Hornet - laws of physics still rule and the basic rule with engines is that if there is more power available, it gets used to launch with more stuff.
As an aside, I have been told that the Super Hornet has an automatic system which allows the pilot to select afterburner, but it doesn't come on until the plane is on its way down the cat - this prevents Hot Gas Ingestion when the aircraft is up against the Jet Blast Deflector. Complicated stuff, this cat and trap.....
best regards
Engines