I was just following your model of making a "witty" comment and never presenting an argument. If you want to get into a pissing match... The ability to stay on station for more than 10 minutes, FAC(A), and carry a lot more stuff that isn't just bombs. Things like a targeting pod that isn't compromised for LO, Mavericks, rockets, or whatever else you want to hang on there. For strafing it actually has a CCIP, which would certainly seem helpful (right, not talking about the gun). It actually has armor, two engines, can take a 23MM round to the face, all of which would certainly seem relevant for flying CAS. If previous LO aircraft are any indication it should cost half as much to operate (conservatively), which would be a lot less if they weren't still trying to keep a 30+ year old aircraft flying.
I guess it is irrelevant and the F-35 will serve as an excellent replacement, if one considers CAS dropping two JDAM's "outside the threat envelope" and we don't stay/get involved in any more small wars.
I see you don't know anything about CAS (from either end of the radio) or CAS platform capabilities, but please, do continue. It's fairly entertaining to those of us that do.
Is a LO platform the ideal one for the USMC if it sacrifices survivability, and more importantly, maintainability? Probably not (IMO). But in these shrinking budget times, that's what's going to happen. We are not moving towards more types of specialty aircraft, and to think that we would suddenly venture there is ridiculous.
Yes, everyone knows the A-10 is robust and can carry a large payload. Know what most of that payload is these days? PGMs. The F-35 has the ability to carry external stores too. The LO is more of a 'day one' capability. Seeing as USMC TACAIR is not a primarily day one air arm, I would expect to see us hanging pylons more often than not. CAS is not defined by the type of ordnance you employ, and if, as a FAC or shooter, I can keep the aircraft out of a threat envelope with standoff weapons, I will do it every time.
Also, CCIP has nothing to do with the way the gun is installed. The Harrier has a gun pak and it has a very capable height above target derivation ability, be it through the Litening pod or the ARBS/DMT, or the radar. Just like the F-35 likely will through the sensor and/or radar. CCIP simply means "continuously calculated impact point," and is calculated by the aircraft knowing where it is in space and something telling it where the target is, so it can do the math for the 'bombing triangle.'