In summary

Quote from an engineer an analyst with about 30-some years in the business:

There has never been an operational need for the F-35C - it does no more than the F/A-18E, is not much better in penetration performance, and is more expensive and more difficult to operate and maintain. Apropos the F-35A, it is worse, since the F-35A is grossly inferior to the F-22 in penetrating roles, more expensive than the F-22, and in non-penetrating roles, is more expensive than and inferior to a late model F-15E variant. The program exists simply to make $$$ for LM.

I totally agree.