Bastardeux,
I still don't understand the use of the word hijacked..but there you go. The USMC have stated a requirement and it looks to me that they will get the aircraft they want.
I don't disagree with anything else you say - none of it whatsoever. But the question that you should be asking is 'Why did the two other US services persist with the procurement of a system that, from its very inception, has had its performance dictated by the requirements of the USMC?'
I know we like to think that other customers matter - but I'm not convinced they do other than to reduce unit cost.