While the B-1 flies like a fighter yet carries a full bomber load, it has always been a weapon system in search of a mission. After all its years in service, the mission is still not well-defined. It is not fully stealth, it was not successful as a penetration bomber, and couldn’t even answer the bell for Desert Storm after every Iraqi fighter was grounded and SEAD was achieved. Best evidence for my thesis: the B52 is still flying with pilots that are younger than the airframe.
Please don’t take my comment as disparaging to the crews or the superior flight characteristics of the aircraft that make it impressive at an airshow. The problem is with the decision-makers that put us in this position.
My husband started his AF career in B-52's in '81. The BUFFs were nearly 20 years older than most of his crew; the AC flew them in Vietnam when they were new.
Bones cycled a large number of sorties over both Iraq and Afcrapistan. I know more than a few guys who’s bacon was saved by a loitering B-1.