I can’t recall seeing an article about the development of this aircraft that wasn’t either a marketing ad or one that went the opposite direction and seemed to ignore the fact that the purpose of testing is to expose flaws so they can be corrected. If one goes back and reads the press as the M1 Abrams tank was in development, or for that matter just prior to the first Gulf War, it supposedly couldn’t operate in a sand storm. So it’s probably best not to form a judgement until finished model F-35’s are deployed with pilots and naval aviators fully trained. Lockheed-Martin has a pretty amazing track record of success.
Boeing has a very effective PR team; Lockheed almost as good. And both of them have a large stable of rented politicians.