What? A1bill, I'm afraid I don't quite follow you. VMFA 121 (declared operational at IOC) will be moving to Japan in 2017 or thereabouts, not now. That's where they're supposed to be based. That's hardly a measure of operational readiness.
I see no "hoopla". I am questioning the readiness of the F-35B to be declared at IOC for all the reasons already discussed. Do you think questioning processes is "hoopla"?
I have a feeling you and I have had similar conversations some time ago.