My point was that both reports cannot be correct, it would just be reassuring to know where the project really was...
And my point was that both reports CAN be correct depending on what is being compared to what.
As for the single F-16 dogfight datapoint, that's pretty old news, has been discussed on this and several other forums ad nauseam, and has been pretty much put to bed. So "where is the airplane now?" That's been answered: the pilots who actually fly the airplane "now" are loving it and most have experience in other tactical jets. By their reconning, the F-35 is already better than those legacy aircraft. The test and development folks continue to wring out the airplane and are continuing to improve it. It's got a ways to go before everything that needs doing gets done. That's pretty typical. What is unclear is how much will get done under the current budget plans/constraints. And no one can answer that right now, but the answer is being worked on.