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I was trying to explain that Predators aren’t a weapon of first engagement, whereas a Raptor clearly is.

The Raptor is an offensive weapon. You don't send them in until you are intending to take the fight to the North Koreans or whoever else is the target of the day. Patrol flights are basically putting an aircraft out there to draw fire. You don't use your most valuable air superiority aircraft to provide your enemy with target practice. Predators aren't stealthy, but we have more of them than the Norks do first line SAMs. So you put them up there to keep an eye on what the other guy is doing. If they shoot one down, well at least you don't have to write a letter home to a robot's mom.

Also the F-22 isn't invisible. It is hard to spot on radar or IR, but it can be spotted if you know exactly what to look for. Given enough opportunities to observe it the Norks could figure out how to pick the F-22s reduced radar signature out of the clutter. And they would then pass that info on to the Chinese who I'm sure would be very happy to get it.

The F-22 is a fighting aircraft. It shouldn't be used for grand gestures, showing the flag or parades. It is for making the bad guys go bye bye. And the first time they know it is there should be when their plane blows up.

'The Raptor is an offensive weapon."

Sure, let's stipulate everything you've said. But, we're having this discussion in the context of this thread - a thread with the title, "North Korea Will Listen, but Only to F-22s".

I believe the point the author is making - a point I'm neither endorsing nor refuting - is that a show of force is necessary. To that extent, the choice between a Raptor or a Predator is pretty stark - a Raptor projects force, a Predator doesn't - at least not until such a time when air defense capabilities are completely neutered and the US enjoys air dominance.

Put another way, a Predator projects force to goat herders in the Hindu Kush, and to terrorists in Range Rovers cruising Yemeni highways. But, the Predator project zero force to a conventional army that enjoys robust air defense capabilities.

Can they be an effective surveillance tool along the border? Sure. But they aren't sending any kind of message.