Does reliability become a factor... Being able to do multiple turn-rounds on the aircraft to generate consecutive sorties?
You could have the best combat aircraft in the world but if it needs 100 hours maintenance for every 1 flying hour, it's not that useful. I suppose reliable mud movers that can do quick turn arounds, if unopposed could keep on delivering and overwhelm the other side. Almost a force multiplier.
Was the F-14 was canned in the end because it was requiring too much maint per flying hour? I suppose if your doing carrier ops you don't want the second wave to go u/s on the flight deck and block the first wave from landing.