Hval,
I do agree that the Rafale looks the mutt's nuts. The phots from when they deployed a Flotille with the USN (USS Harry S Truman ?) showed the M model off a treat.
Reading Dassault's publicity on their website, they make a big bit about austere field worthiness and not over-complicating the design.
A real pity that these won't be getting bought for the WAFUs.
I would not be suprised if the MoD / RAF / HM Treasury's decision to sell loads of our Typhoons rather than keeping them is sonehow not a selling point.