Nutloose (your #1),
(My #7334, 22 Aug 2015, in "Pilot's Brevet...")
...As I see it there are only two questions:
1. Are we going to get it ?...... 2. If we do, will it work ?
There is one sure-fire way of settling "2". Find a war going on somewhere and think up a rationale for supplying a few F-35 to one side. There is nothing like a war for showing what kit works - and what doesn't ! (I've been told the "Sidewinder" was "Road-tested" in this way, but then you hear all sorts of things)....
(Relevant to the matter under discussion ?)
Danny.