LO,
If you look at the deck layout of an LHA or LHD and consider the other assets on board you will be able to make your own sensible judgement on the safe recovery of an aircraft doing around 35 knots along the deck on landing with no arrested 'hold back' from a conventional cable.
VLBB is physics limited as you know. A F-35B isn't going to get lighter and the current VLBB KPP is challenging. With the assumption you will always want at least the 'standard' load (already a pretty limited loadout in a B) this simply means you have a tighter margin for fuel and the motor wears out quicker.
If we go back to the B, it would be good if we could look at where we will be in 10 or 15 years time when we will have tired engines and a heavier basic aircraft. On an aircraft that will have another 15 to 20 years ahead of it. It won't be pretty for those who can only VL onto their landing spot if they want to bring anything useful back to their ship.
You could also look now at how you are going to bring back anything other than 2 firecrackers in the belly from the first day of service if all you can do is VL.