AFTI was definitely an area where someone managed to get their pet rock accepted as part of the technology baseline. More-electric and 270VDC was part of that, as was the integrated powerpack.
Part of this may have been the belief that electric was the way of the future, and that developments like electric cars would drive better battery, power management and motor technology. This was certainly the view of Boeing on the 7E7/787.
I must say that I was boggled when I saw the JSF actuators on the Parker stand at Farnborough. They reminded me of the engine on my garden tractor, rather than something you'd put in the wing of a high-performance jet. Maybe the promised cost advantages will happen, but there's little sign of that so far.
The engine reliability issues will be a challenge - and sorry, but "better than 1970s British products" is not exactly a supercalifragilisticexpialadocious endorsement - and a repeat of the SBSDD "the GAO report is based on old data" is unreassuring.