the experience breeds across to the RAF and in the future the tradition and skillset is back up to the necessary levels.
Nice idea, but people do not join the RAF to make going to sea their career. We would end up with the same situation as the Harrier where embarkations occured for the minimum time - as decreed by the RAF, not RN. You will not develop the necessary through career expertise to fill all of the shipbourne and maritime staff posts.
Expeditionary ops remains the mainstay of Govt policy with Carrier enabled strike and amphibiosity the central pillars - until they change the policy it is where the priority will now go and transferring Merlin is part of that policy. I assume the Govt are prepared to pay for it as they keep telling us it is going to happen.