The F35 will come into its own at some point in the future, just like the rest, including the A10. The A10 hasn’t gotten where it’s at in static form...many upgrades and enhancements have subsequently made it the great platform it has become for its mission.
Yep, just like the F-111. It was a damn good aircraft and did some very notable things in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Most people have never heard of that. An EF-111 even got an Iraqi Mirage F1 kill. But it wasn't always that way, the F-111 had big problems when it came on line in the Vietnam war. It took a lot of early losses and had the reputation of being a big pig that was only built because it was made in LBJ's backyard (Fort Worth, Texas). It took some time, work, and upgrades to make the F-111 a great aircraft.
“It took some time, work, and upgrades to make the F-111 a great aircraft.”
Same with P-51. And the B-17. And the darn near every other aircraft. These days they just cost more and take longer so people who know next to nothing have plenty of time to read articles they hardly understand and start regurgitating them. In 20 years, if the same people are alive they will bitch and moan about the F-57 and still wax nostalgic for whatever plane was their favorite.