Courtney:
I guess there's a line of inquiry open to considering why the latest Grippen wasn't chosen for RAAF needs.
As I am not from Australia, and do not understand the nuances of their procurement challenges (with a much smaller budget than we have here in the USofA) it may have been a question that answered itself during the requirements definition phase.
Part of Australian strategic posture seems to mirror American strategic posture: we'll do any fighting in the future as part of a coalition or alliance. The advantage to having similar kit may be at the strategic level as well as at an operational level. F-35 in that regard fits a particular strategic need.
For a price, of course.