Good post Dominator. Having spent some time on the OEU and then in MOD I think the average front line pilot or nav would be amazed at the opportunities missed to update an in-service aircraft , in case the update should jeopardize a future programme.
On the ASRAAM topic, it's an amazing missile. I was lucky enough to fire one at M1.4 during the clearance programme. We counted down to firing, both of us looked for it, but it was off the rail so quickly and left so little smoke or trail we never saw a thing! A high speed, invisible hitile coming at you would be a depressing prospect.