The F-4 (like the Warthog) proves that if you take care of a good piece of equipment it will last a long time.
But I wouldn’t want to fly an F-4 against an F-18 flown by our Marine pilots.
I’ve flown F-4s against F-15s and Australian F-18s. We held our own, and sometimes more.
If the F4 d has AIM-120 AMRAAM it can engage an F-18 at a fair chance of victory as the fight should be Beyond visual range. F-4E Peace Icarus 2000 has AIM-120
Only rules of engagement makes the Turn and Burn a requirement.
and as a bomb truck the F-4 is still a good platform just old and expensive on the fuel side.