CM,
Only suggesting the possibility - not proposing a contract.
My "agenda" (if I had one) was to broaden the narrows of some people's vision and make some look for other solutions that even this poorly informed rigga knows are out there - definately cheaper and potentially better than that you had.
I'm quite sure that if you placed each of the nimrods roles into several airframes tuned to that particular need, it would still be cheaper than using an all-in-one nimrod. Easier to maintain and increasing reliability.
The ruse of having it all in one frame "in case its needed" is a bit of a red herring to me. No different to not having enough airframes to cover the patch adequately, or not having the right capability in the right place. Always a debate without solution.