Engines - Thanks for the detailed response, which meshes with my understanding. The six-aircraft standard airwing (combined with the differences between the F-35B and Harrier, discussed earlier here) explains why the USMC can say that only 10 per cent of operations will be STOVL mode: at any given time, the number of JSFs deployed on amphibs will be < 6 x the number of deployed amphibs - because some taskings will be all-helo.
The two Americas are an interesting case, trading well decks for aviation capability. While better able to support a larger F-35B complement than the Wasps, or the follow-on subclass (which restores the well deck), they seem to be neither fish nor fowl, compromised both in fast-jet carriage and classic amphib-warfare support, which may explain why no more are to be built.
You'll forgive me for being somewhat skeptical about the F-35's stealth maintenance requirements, given the consistent track record of stealth programs in that regard. The pre-IOC discussions of the F-22 are an almost exact echo of what is being said about JSF.