rh200, The current situation is not unusual unless problems with the engine prove chronic over time.
The program is complex because L-M, DoD and Congress made it complex, it could have been simplified and orderly. L-M sold DoD on a bill of goods to fulfill DoD's dreams and wish lists to assure winning the contract. The technology offered was immature or nonexistent at the time and didn't develop on the proper timetable. So in order to catch up, which is impossible to do, items that should have been accomplished in series are being accomplished in parallel. All it takes is one thing to fail and another work around plan results, more complexity and with higher risks.
Congress (the guardian of money paid by the United State's taxpayers for this program) never acts, only reacts once all the money escapes and more is needed. Half of them, if you yelled F-35, would think it was a callout at a bingo game, yet it is the most expensive DoD program, ever.
If you are in the technology business, be it golf clubs or airplanes, time to market is the technology edge. The longer that time takes, the less the technology advantage until it reaches a point where there is no advantage at all and IMHO, that is where we are headed. 19 years before a fully capable fleet is operational is appalling. Heathrow Harry's time line may be most appropriate the way we are headed.
As far as hanging on a thread, we are not hanging now as we still have excellent operational aircraft, none of which took 19 years to become fully operational. But since the F-35 is a be all, do all aircraft of the future, compromises to accommodate the be all and do all included, will we all be hanging on a thread?