“As I understand it, the F35 is a standoff platform. What’s the big deal?”
Yep. All aircraft avoid getting too close to thunderstorms (or flying in them) not only due to lightning, but also hail, which is often encountered outside the cloud itself.
The F-35 carries the AM-120D missile, with something over 100 miles range. Even the Sidewinder is a 20+ mile range missile. The F-35’s strengths are its stealth, radar, EO/IR sensor package, networking, and processor power.
As to the F-35 being a “dog”, it has dominated the (undefeated in actual combat) F-15 in head-to-head Red Flag competition...