Ron,
I understand your frustration but please look at the bigger picture. Those personnel directly involved with the Mk6 will be in many cases the very same people helping to deliver solutions for dust landings & DAS. Ironically,though the Mk6 indeed may never see Afg, it's vital to both programmes as it will (if it survives) deliver Digital AFCS and the next-gen DAS to the fleet; once proven on the Mk6 they can be retrofitted to the legacy aircraft. With regard to the Mk6 buy, the whole of FRWS relies upon it. We're still massively short of RW lift according to the NAO, and it will only get worse when the SK dies. The Mk6 is much, much more than just a few more cabs to make convenient headlines; much of the future Chinook capability relies on getting access to the non-obsolescent CH47F standard.