Notwithstanding the excellent debate on Falkands Islands defence, the Tucano/Typhoon debate misses one huge point (at least). That is - the Typhoons are paid for! We (the UK) have been trying to get out of buying our allocation for years but our unique procurement system has contracted us into a place where it is more expensive not to buy something! perhaps Gen Richards would like to identify the Rifle Battalion he wishes disbanded to pay for some new Tucanos.
We are unable to afford inflexible assets - ie something that can only operate in a benign environment - we have to be able to cover the whole spectrum of possible war. As for FJs being inflexible, isn't the valuable CAS support to TICs currently being very effectively provided by an aircraft purchased for low level IMC nuclear strike?
Bottom line - in an ideal world COIN platforms would be nice - given no ganja to smoke we'd better manage with what we've got!