MSOCS,
Nobody said this is cheap!
It's worth it though, IMHO.
Well, nobody said blank taxpayer checks would be issued to pay for it, either. As far as it being worth it or not, that has been decided a long time ago when it didn't come to market when it was promised along with all the bells and whistles which worked. Think much broader, where is the money going to come from to evolve and production fund a new B-21 bomber fleet? Where is the money going to come from to evolve and production fund the next new fighter interceptor fleet?
There are many Department of Defense programs that are worthy of fully funding, will they be affected by the out of control spending on the F-35 program? If you don't know what something costs, you are out of control.
The longer the F-35 program goes on in time before the planes are fully capable and work as promised, the lesser value they become. Conversely, the more expensive they become.