Spaz - You are supporting the points being made here.
A lot of compromised or special-purpose aircraft succeeded in niche missions. The RAN A-4 and Sea Harrier FRS1 could reduce or eliminate the adversary's ability to shadow the fleet with impunity from any point outside SAM range. Likewise, the Bucc was an excellent bomber, as was the A-7 (and I have heard the F-35 compared to both).
Indeed, if the F-35 had been designed as a specialty aircraft - a follow-on to the F-117/A-6 with the ability to hit moving targets, some in-weather capability, and the situational awareness and weapons to self-defend and survive in daylight - it would have been cheaper, better and more efficient. You can even sell me the F-35A/C in those roles today, although they are horribly compromised by STOVL.
But that's not how the program was planned or sold. The idea was to replace every fighter in the Western world, providing US industry with a lucrative monopoly and establishing effective US control over every allied AF. In the process, it was claimed that the JSF would be better at everything than everything else (except F-22 in air-to-air) and cost less too.
Not only have those claims proven to be hyped, but the strategic weakness inherent in any single point solution has been exploited by potential adversaries and their armorers.