Engines, despite your protestations above, the NAVY, by there actions, were responsible for the SHAR demise.
Period.
Why give up a proven fleet defence asset for one the basically couldn't ? Well??
Heads should have rolled for that one.
If, note IF, the FAA are to fly aircraft from flattops in the [near] future then they have to retain their OVERALL core skills. Whilst not representative of any future aircraft at least the Harrier could allow "the team" to maintain the majority of the deck handling/ops skills in the meantime.
All the best
GR.