There’s no way to make an aircraft with variable geometry wings better, especially for naval aviation, than one with fixed wings using the same technology and similar cost. Oh sure the Tomcat has a great publicist, but those moveable wings weigh more, break more, cost more, and have to stay out of the air longer.
With drone and missile technology where it is, and where it is headed, there should be no reason the f22 and f35’s generation of aircraft have a pilot in the cockpit. But the people planning for the next wars think the reason we have an air Force and naval aviation is to wrap something shiny around a strong chinned pilot in a flight suit so he or she can win medals and get promoted.
Better? With those swing wings extended, it increased the Tomcat's loiter time and maneuverability, and it reduced the landing speed for carrier landings. Swept back, it was ridiculously fast. It could break the speed of sound at sea level. Not even the F-15 can do that.