In reality the only people who are probably justifiably concerned by what they're getting are the US Navy and US Air Force (the US Marines being happy with their Bs for the same reasons we would be, it's so much better than a Harrier). Pretty much everyone else who operated Harriers (or probably F-16s) who is getting some version of a F-35 is getting such a step up in capability it's not even funny.
As a replacement for the Tornado GR4s the A would only ever really be a compromise candidate and is again a reflection of reduced defence budgets. More properly the F-35 is probably closer to a Jaguar replacement than it is a Tornado. The UK probably actually needs three fast jets fleets. Typhoons for air defence with a bit of ground attack on the side, the F-35Bs for the Royal Navy and a modern Tornado like strike bomber for the RAF to deliver bombs and ground attack missiles where needed.
But we are where we are and just having more Typhoons and F-35Bs would go a long way to addressing the RAF and RN issues.
