Sans.....discussing the cost of a 22 is not "jabbing"....merely stating the fact they are one very expensive machine.
The UK MOD budget being what it is....I am sure they would be glad to have SLEP'd surplus C-2's if they were much cheaper than buying new....which they most certainly would be.
We are not comparing Apples....much more like Apples and Oranges as the two aircraft are very different....one being an Airplane that is Cat/Trap capable but has no VTOL capability and the other being a VTOL aircraft with no Cat/Trap capability (or need).
When you quote the 39 Million price tag...that included design, testing, training, and all the support equipment, production tooling, Sims and the like that went with the initial program. As there are very few of the aircraft being built the cost will reflect that fact. That is why the SLEP program has so much merit.
Spin it all you may....the Osprey is a very expensive aircraft.
One thing is absolutely certain....the British MOD will screw it up....if past performance in other programs are any indication. Read up on the Chinook buy they did that was a total disaster....all because they insisted upon a unique software system rather than buying the existing Boeing system used by the US Army.