Persoanlly i think the RW fleet are under valued by the airforce. Yet the RW fleet have decades more operational experience than most of the other fleets in the airforce.
They have their place they also have their limitations. The Apache is a great support platform but CAS needs to have more layers than a single platform and fixed wing provide that. Just as Ground based artillery can as well and actually artillery is the better option as its usually more responsive if in range and is usually around for longer periods than Fixed or rotary winged assets.
This playing kingdoms is what the armed forces is descending into yet it is ment to be an integrated force with each bit playing its part. Unfortunatley with the funding problems someone elses gain is seen as a loss for someone else. Added to which everything is seen in the context of Afghanistan and the current not the near or distant future or anywhere else in the world.
Unless we decide we are going to reduce our armed forces to a home only orginisation something at the top needs to change dramatically.