MSOCS
Can you accept that scenarios might occur where ground attack is not the only thing needed - perhaps not even the primary thing? What if you need to support other activities?
I said Some people seem to forget other things (amphibious forces, ships/helicopters doing ASW, mines countermeasures forces, key logistic ships) also need air defence.
You seem to have ignored that, and said So, if the Captain wants 24/7 F-35 overhead in the AOR covering his/her own carrier, there will be no strike going on. That's fine if you're transiting in and out of the Theatre, but if you're there with a job to do, it ain't fine.
So what if the Joint Forces' job includes things like clearing mines, conducting ASW operations, putting troops ashore etc - and the bad guys actually do have a navy and an air force?