Open Thread....Why has the F-35's capabilities moved into the ether?

When we talk about the F-22, we talk about capabilities that are measurable.  It flies high, is fast and has super maneuverability.  Same with the Typhoon.  Same with the SU-30 family.

With foreign 5th gen fighters we're looking at the same.  The Chinese are claiming that the J-20 will supercruise, fly high, have super maneuverability, limited stealth and sensor fusion.  Ditto with the PAK-FA.

But the F-35 is different.

No one talks about super maneuverability.  Not a word about supercruise.  Nothing about anything that is readily measurable.

Instead the focus is on things that aren't quantifiable.

The talk is about "shaping", using the airplane as a "sensor node", but not one word about fighting other aircraft or how it will put steel on target to support troops on the ground.

Until the Pentagon is able to tell us how this airplane will do the job better than legacy fighters they will remain under the gun and subject to ridicule.  Critics don't have an F-35 problem....its supporters do.