I believe that the F-35 will eventually be a good platform (as the Abrams tank after years of scathing criticism) but it is going to take more time, effort, and money than they expect.
That said, destroying the A-10Cs sitting in the boneyard is CRIMINAL. Someone should be brought to task for that.
I don't recall reading in the story how many A-10Cs were salvaged and rendered into aluminum ingots just the nebulous "some". That is enough to make the story sensational without being specifically factual.
For example, condemnation of an airframe can result from class B and C mishaps which can render the airframe unflyable but not unusable. Some become maintenance trainers, some are relegated to the fire department as rescue and recovery trainers (check out you local base fire training pit), most eventually are sent to DMAFB for AMARG disposition.