If the F35B dies then the RN will not get to ponder very long. Ministers will have a stark choice:
Spend a load of extra unbudgeted money on CTOL conversion and the associated enablers or,
Complete and sell both carriers.
Add in some inter-service politics (if only because the F35C/F18 bring much greater costs for the RAF to develop and maintain a naval air capability) and Treasury pressure to delete the carriers from the Defence Budget and I know which option I would bet on.
N