I disagree that it should be F-22 vs F-35.
I agree. The F-4 and A-7 also worked side by side for a few decades. Each filled a different air combat niche. Just as the A-7 was never intended to be an F-4 replacement, the F-35 was never intended to be an F-22 replacement. (and as a reminder, a gap filler is quite different than a replacement.)