I'm interested in your last sentence there, KenV. Before the JORD was written in 2000 (maybe four years before, if memory serves), one of the design goals was, "F-35 to be the premier strike aircraft through 2040 and to be second only to the F-22 Raptor in air supremacy". "Someone" even did some trials to evaluate the possibility. I guess the last bit disappeared at some point, but none-the-less it was an intention early on, it just isn't now.