Bus driver,
I couldn't agree more, and a lot of the pro A10 rhetoric on here is largely agreeing with you on that score. The CAS piece is a bit of a non issue with respect to heights but I'd make the point that "sometimes" you WILL have to get dirty for the guys in the sh!t. Not just because of weather and geography but because the bad guys are that close. See how the Chechens did it against the Russians. Literally sticking to a formation like limpets....brave, clever and almost immediately rendering fire support useless.
It's not World War Two I grant you but my last danger close was two years ago, and I still have nightmares! And it went well thank god.
It may be a crap analogy but why drive around London as a taxi driver in an Aston Martin when there is something far far better for the job.....
I have absolutely no agenda regarding F35, it will kick arrse I'm sure, my first and only loyalty is to one bloke....the JTAC, If he wants it he gets it. I couldn't care less from which platform.