It was predicted back in the 1960's that the price of fighters would rise to the point of the entire military budget would be expended building one fighter. So far, we're right on target.
We have clearly shot past the point where anyone would dare risk employing the F-35 in any combat role.
Could it be the case that the whole point of "trying" to build this fighter jet is to research the necessary technologies just in case future demands it?
If it was a dozen aircraft, which is where the Russian 5th Gen fighter program is presently, then that might be it. But the US military is ordering over two thousand of them. That's a little much for keeping the skill and knowledge base around.
It's more likely that 2,000 of them will never be delivered.
It'll be more like 500, and they'll kill the purchases in N years and move on to the next program. A higher volume mimic of the F22 outcome. The defense contractors will make 1/5th as many as planned in 2010, at 1/2 the cost.
We have clearly shot past the point where anyone would dare risk employing the F-35 in any combat role.