LO, are you saying it won't or can't VL on the ships where necessity dictates either an RVL or VL? It will, of course. For the UK and Marines the VL really is only required for the ship, regardless of how one reads the requirements. Austere base would require only a 50-80kt groundspeed landing on a c.1500' strip at best. In terms of damage to surfaces I'd be more concerned about the effects of a max-weight STO than a slow landing at just above diversion fuel. All surfaces have to be of sufficient quality to VL onto, even for a Harrier. You're not just worried about the damage you could cause as high pressure jet blast enters cracks, you're also worried about ingesting FOD if it isn't swept.
I remain firmly with White Ovies on this. Just because F-35B can VL doesn't mean it has to. When it does have to, it will. That's the design.