MM,
I think you got it right in your second paragraph, the SDSR is purely a cost savings exercise (in my opinion) so everyhing else you say, while possibly valid, is of no consequence.
Have a look at this....
Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Defence Policy and Business | Dr Liam Fox outlines reform of the Ministry of Defence
About half way down they talk of 5 steps, which starts off with effectively how much money is saved, and works thoriugh what capability is lost as a result with associated risks.
Surely a SDR should run as follows:
Step 1 - Decide what HMG wants to be able to do in the world in terms of Defence and Foreign Policy.
Step 2 - Decide what assets/capabilities are required to fulfill the wishes established in Step 1.
Step 3 - Cost the assets/capabilities decided in Step 2.
Step 4 - If the costs calculated in Step 3 are acceptable FINE! If the costs are unacceptable revisit step 1 and decide what we are no longer going to be able to do as a nation. Trim our aspirations.
Now go through steps 1-4 repeatedly until the costs generated in step 3 are acceptable....
This doesn't appear to be what we are doing. It appears to be a case of "there is this much money, what can we still do, and what risks are we taking.....".
At least that is how it appears to me, but then I have been told before that I look at things too simply......!!!