My friend the ex AF fighter pilot has told me that even when he was on active duty (and he has friends still "in the business") the ROE were such that stealth tech and standoff weapons were almost useless to them. Their ROE invariably required a positive ID, which generally meant closing to visual or camera range. That close in, stealth isn't going to prevent a detection. Good airmanship and tactics win the day. So a beast like the -15 that hasn't made compromises in maneuverability for stealth is probably a much better choice - for the way we seem to be using our fighters today.
“Their ROE invariably required a positive ID, which generally meant closing to visual or camera range”
There are other electronic ID methods that do not require closure anywhere near a merge (former A-10 and F-15E driver speaking).
ROE is a “killer” and does takeaway some of the stealth advantage. . .but maybe with Trump the ROE will be modified. . .