isaneng - if I was looking for a bite I'd post something contraversial.
Not the slightest bit interested in yet more petty J/K cock waving. 15 years at Lyneham and a good few thousand hours on both types gives me, I believe, at least a minor position of authority from which to speak. My "concern" is that our little corner of the AT world continually fails to make the hard decisions it needs to if it is to be of any service to Defence at large. Continually tipping money we can't spare (and that would be much better spent elsewhere) into a very tired, old aircraft on the basis of some arguments that are, at best, flimsy and at worst specious, is not the way we are going to improve that.
JP - I'm sure the A400M will be marvellous when it finally appears. Unfortunately, that appearance is a moveable (in one direction) feast which only serves to increase the strain on the existing AT fleet. More C17s/C130Js is an "immediate" solution to an immediate problem.