I think the musings about downloading training onto cheaper aircraft are most likely on the money; the high requirements aren't for its abilities to train new pilots, but to make it a legitimate replacement for hours on frontline aircraft. Rather like the rumours that the QWI course is going to be carried out on the T2, they'll be used far more extensively than just fast jet trainers...and having heard some of the proposed plans for F35 flying hours, it sounds like the only way to keep people current.