Not really sure you know what you are talking about, an aircraft like the A-29 has a much lower cost per hour than aircraft like the A-10 and F-16.
Not after you factor in "other" costs such as:
- increased likelihood of CSAR costs (relative to 5th Gen platform) due to likely contested future operating environment
- increased likelihood of veterans medical costs (relative to 5th Gen platform) due to likely contested future operating environment
- increased likelihood of paying survivor benefits after MIA/KIA (relative to 5th Gen platform) due to likely contested future operating environment
- increased likelihood of follow-on costs of failing to achieve national objectives (relative to 5th Gen platform) in a future conflict against a near peer adversary
Yeah, it's cheaper now, but if X more aviators get shot down in a shittier low budget airframe, there are back-end costs that the bean counters don't typically account for. Quality in battle is hard to factor. Case in point: 1941-44, would you rather have 3 Tigers or 5 Shermans?