In the case of JSF advocates, a very ing long time indeed.
Like all those crazy air forces all over the world that are convinced its worth having? with even more signing on despite the issues?
The JSF seems to confound its critics from Bill Sweetman to Airpower Australia with its refusal to die, and win more orders in the meantime. Just like that terrible super hornet we were hearing about a little over ten years ago. whether bill wants to admit it or not, there are more advocates now than we he was suspended a few years back. It has to be frustrating.
I don't think anyone would step out and call the Super Hornet the world's hottest fighter. However, the USN doesn't have a lot of choice, so the correct question is how it compares with the F-35C, particularly when one looks at the 2020 models of both.
The way Bill Sweetman made it sound, the navy as an institution lied and changed the rules to get it, and it useless as an actual fighter. (which sounds familiar actually) So they did have a choice, and chose to stick with the aircraft he disagreed with, as you point out they don't seem to have any regrets, it seems they can't get enough of it in fact.