For one thing, there is a lot more they plan on doing with the F-35 than what you just described. The article was very light on details, but other than endurance, what exactly do you think this thing will do "better" than an F-35? That seems like a bold claim considering almost no actual capabilities were even discussed.
As for escorting Ospreys, I doubt it. Jets and skids already can escort Ospreys. The problem is gaps in coverage for the guys on the ground. An amphib launched UAV would help with that, but that's not exactly escort. Having an armed UAV arrive early and stay late would certainly be nice though.
That's the point-outside of taking off and landing on the big deck what unique capabilities does the VTOL F35 bring to the table in the joint combat environment that aren't already done better by another asset, or doesn't require support from Other services to successfully execute?
AAW: How effective are 4-6 F35s going to be in defending the amphibs in a high threat Anti access/ area denial ASCM environment? Not very on their own. Its going to take an AGEIS shooter and permissive ROE to provide any legitimate AAW defense of the MEU outside of a non-contested environment. A high threat environment is going to require a CVN airwant and Air Force assets to counter.
ASW: N/A
ASUW: MEU helos are better suited for the FAC/FIAC mission and provide non leathal escalation options in ATFP scenarios.
Strike: The Risk adverse culture of the Navy isn't going to allowed an Amphib to be parked on the horizon of a target nation during a first day of the war type scenario. Only after the theater is mature would that be allowed. Overland missions require dedicated tanking and EW/EA capabilities which the F35 doesn't have, and without would be forced to operate close to the big deck.
Stealth: Flying around the big deck do you really need to have a stealth aircraft? The RCS of the big deck not small, so no. Self escort/Strike mission require other supporting assets.
Consistent ISR presence/CAS support- requires dedicated tanker assets to give long onstation times and extended ranges. Robots have become a lot more capable in these areas and can provide the same support (outside of show of force). Those capabilities have evolved so much that the currently GFCs prioritize robots onstation over fixed wing jet cas assets due to yo yo tanking affecting onstation coverage.
Like I said, it's not the 1980s anymore and we're not the Brits. Warfare has changed in the last 25 years and there are very few scenarios where a threat environment is going to allow the MEU to operate alone and unsupported from the amphibs. In the supported environment the VTOL fixed wing assets don't bring much to the table thst isn't a duplicated product on a micro scale, outside of takeoff and landing capabilities.