The NH90's problems presumably stem from asking two OEMs with a bitter history (esp. in the European courts) to work together. Especially when both continue to promote competing products (AW101/AW149 & EC725).
Turkey raises a good point: the TTH utility version (and sub-variants) is just a truck; the NFH naval version, incl. the NSH, is a far more sophisticated platform. It's tempting to wonder whether NHI might have been better off selecting a dedicated mission systems provider, as was done with the MH-60R and Merlin HM Mk1, though neither of those programs can exactly be held up as a model of program management.
Mission systems aside, it's unfair to call the NH90 a "second rate" helicopter, given that its capabilities (FBW, FADEC, composite cabin) won't be matched on the 60 Mike until the UH-60Mu BII, which is 5+ years away.
The NH90's fate is in NHI's hands: unless they start meeting their delivery targets (2009 goal = 40, actual = 15), those 529 orders may start eroding.
I/C