I suggested the same thing.
I was told it’s not that simple.
A hook, folding wings, ability to catapult launch, and ability to take hundreds of thumping HARD landings on a heaving deck, and probably a dozen more requirements you and I haven’t thought of...
The airframe is mostly titanium, and heavy pieces at that. I helped repurpose the machines that made the frame parts after the line was shut down and the machines were sold to mcdonell douglas canada. The spindles were heavy bearing lower rpm for machining titanium. We replaced them with higher rpm spindles to machine aluminium. We regeared the axis drives to be able to feed faster for Alumnium as well. The machines were in great shape. We also upgraded the controllers and drive systems for better accuracy. .001 inches over 100 feet. Think of the A10 as something like the avenger of ww2. A stiff airframe with good hauling and low takeoff and landing speeds. The F/A18 has a fully loaded stall speed of 135 knots, and the A-10 is 138 knots so the cats should be able to accelerate it to takeoff. I’m sure the deck crew would appreciate the engines not scorching the deck while taxiing. So a bridle and a hook and bob’s your uncle. True a super hornet can carry a 10% greater payload fully loaded, but they cost just a bit more per plane to operate and purchase.