The F-35 has been on the chopping block due to severe cost overruns a couple of times. Politics has kept it alive. My yongest son worked at Langley on both the F-22 and F-35. He told me many times that the common consensus with everyone the F-35 was an overpriced piece of crap.
If wishes were horses the F-35 would be in the cavalry. Everyone wishes the plane was better but it never is.