just querying the idea that it isn't a massive compromise
While I understand your point, that "massive compromise" was the only UK fast jet, indeed worldwide fast jet (stand fast A10 , slower jet) that could operate from Kandahar 2004 - 2006, while the airfield was being re-built. It could still take off and recover with a full war load and provided comparible times on station to that currently provided by Tornado.
I agree that f35C would have been the better option but I do not believe the VSTOL decision is as huge a compromise as it is made to be. Figures about fuel/range/endurance are all misleading when comparing VSTOL to conventional operations.