MSOCS,
I agree with pretty much everything you just wrote. Good logic.
However,
Originally Posted by MSOCS
Testing will never be complete due to the extensive upgrade Program through-life.
is not a great argument about the current state of op test and evaluation because it can (and should) be said about about any modern programme. The point for F-35 is simply that we can't do any op testing because we don't have the software yet. There is no shame in that, but it will continue to be the major factor in determining true op capability. We have no measures whatsoever of what that might be - simulation included.
Claims on both sides of the argument are worthless until we reach the appropriate phase in the programme, although we can make some educated guesses about some of the strengths.