Flying the S-97 TDs also reduces the perceived level of technical risk for the X2-based JMR candidates.
Sikorsky will do their best to use the S97 as a flying billboard for the FVL X2 based technology, despite the fact that scaling issues are unavoidable, and I maintain that the demonstration of yet another light gross weight ABC vehicle does nothing to mitigate the risks associated with the technical barriers to building a significantly larger version of the ABC rotor.
I would hope that the Army is astute enough not to drink the kool aid.