ICBM,
Is a larger internal weapons bay not essential for stowing meteor? Or larger stores for that matter? If we buy the F35 at an eye watering cost, only to have no option but to hang stores of the wings in a high threat environment, does that not completely negate getting it in the first place??
Also, 1.8 billion over the lifetime of it's service is surely within the standard deviation of budget estimates over a 30 year period? If it is over the service life, then 1.8 billion is as near as makes no difference to being the same price.
I'm with CC, I'm increasingly inclined to think that the Strike Eagle and Super Hornets will still be the weapons of choice in 10 years time.