Thank you to SpazSinbad [!] for those intriguing insights.
Indeed, getting the "meat" of the RCS reduction into the structure of the airframe is, once you step back, a no brainer really, it HAD to be done.
However I go back to my original
précis. Once the RCS element of overall LO reduction is overcome we are left with what?
One thing that has become more relevant to this western guy [me] with increasing years, is the arrogance of
our mindsets to the capabilities of the East.
There are quite literally many millions of bright intellects that are being moulded and trained, given the resources, it will be only a matter of time before technological parity in even the most advanced disciplines are reached.
Look at graphene and who has the highest patents recorded for it's use.
BBC News - Graphene: Patent surge reveals global race
To surmise, IMO, overall, the F35 is 7 years late, 20 years behind in performance and may well lose it's radar stealth cover <10 years, overall, a pretty poor investment.
Unfortunately.