So am I
It's very frustrating.
However, I too agree it might be time for the Swing Wing Death Bird to swing her wings for one final time and bow out gracefully when things are going well for her.
The GR4 has served us well, but with a realisation that we cannot continue to provide the defence capability we one enjoyed; something has to dip out.
The fact is that the GR4 is a very expensive beast, which can no longer hold it's own at the high end. If we can't play with the bigger boys, then we can't play at all.
The GR9 is the deaf, dumb and blind kid - but it does preserve capability for the future when times may be a little easier on the defence budget. I'm ex GR4, but the GR9 gets my vote. I see it like planting a tree - it's investing in the future for UK PLC.
Rough times ahead.