How relevant is it now? Sending people stateside to fly Hornet, and others to do CTOL work, when the future is STOVL?
Completely relevant. I have been fortunate enough to fly both the Harrier and the Super Hornet and what you gain in the technology experience of the Super Hornet more than balances the lack of VSTOL experience. The Super Hornet , even the legacy Hornet, is in my opinion a better lead in to JSF (for the pure multi role capabilities it brings) than the Harrier (and I love the Harrier!). By all accounts VSTOL in F35 B is going to be so straightforward anyone can do it.