Whereas the USN that didn't need to compromise for small decks and small runways only got F14/F18 etc, and when we had proper carriers we only got Bucaneers and phantoms with their terrible bombload/range/endurance.
I bet they are gutted about their lower capability aircraft.
I am not having a go at the harrier, I think it is an amazing piece of engineering, just querying the idea that it isn't a
massive compromise.