I'm fairly sure we're on the same page Courtney, but if they do reduce numbers at what point does the programme become operationally non-viable? Half a dozen airframes on a 60,000T carrier would look rather silly and would be just enough to defend the ship let alone be operationally effective.
One of the other options I can see, given that the USMC are tied into the same programme, is a quiet back room deal for the US to either fund more UK ac or give a us very good deal on the side to ensure the UK but goes ahead as planned just to guarantee their own future capability.