Chris, let me help:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americ...s_assault_ship
Your last point was exactly my point about STOVL design compromising what 'could have been' however the remit of the F-35 program was always commonality - economies of scale to make 5th Gen affordable and, ultimately, globally supportable. Did LM promise a lot and deliver not quite what it promised? Yup, but not in terms of where things matter. I'd love more range on F-35B but the lift fan (not an extra engine) removes that space where fuel could be. A module fuel tank to put there in place of a lift fan when you don't need STOVL was probably mooted and dismissed. Still a reasonable idea as most F-35B arguments still centre around range...especially where Carrier Strike is concerned.
STOVL does give access to nearly double the land based options that conventional types required though...Peter and Paul etc...