The reason they're being compared is because of the push to get rid of the A-10, plain and simple.
The F-35 fills a vital need in our inventory , but so does the the A-10.
We are also missing a slot below the A-10 that used to be filled by the OV-10 Bronco.
We need to pull our Broncos out of moth balls and refit and modernize them for some of the low intensity CAS functions the A-10 is doing but is over kill for. We can field 4 Broncos for the price of one A-10 which gives better coverage and a rapid response to break up the type of ambush attacks the Obama ROE invite.
Then bring in the A-10s if needed.
You're right.
But given how the A-10 is having trouble with being too old
(1972), the older OV-10 (1965) would have an even steeper uphill battle to bring back than that to keep the A-10.