The Navy's never been big on the FWO program, that much was obvious. I'm not exactly sure why that's so, but it's easy to know the difference in smell and plumage between a program that has money and patronage and one that doesn't. FWO does not.
My theory is it's lingering bad memories of the Flying LDO program. Admiral Starling sold the FWO program on the screening argument - that it would reduce competition for DH-XO-CO in helo VP, VQ - which is why the Warrants can only go there. But Big Navy is obviously not sold on the idea, which is why it's still a 'test' program...easier to shut it down, should they so decide.
I was at NASC when the first ones came rolling through, and our collective judgment was that they performed about on par with any of the O-1E's with the same amount of prior time. Which is to say, generally not so good. When you've been in the Fleet for 8-10 years, you're used to little academic work, more exercising leadership and less 'shut up and color', you've got family responsibilities, etc etc. They tended to treat the Program as just another Navy school, not the 'balls-deep in the books, study/fly/eat/sleep/repeat and you'll see the family in two years' attitude you need.
This is not universal; there were quite a few FWO's who diligently worked their assess off and I'm sure are doing great out in gray airplanes now. And I agree that they're taking so few FWO's in that it's impossible to get a scientific sampling. But my own thought is that they need to shift their aim and take in younger petty officers, not the first classes they're going for now. If the Army can do this with 18-year-olds straight out of Boot, then I don't see why you can't take a kid with a crow, warfare pin, kickass evals and ASTB scores, and make a pilot of him. I'd much rather try and work with a 20-year-old with no family baggage and who isn't used to running a shop.
Incidentally, the Associate's requirement is silly, and it's putting off a lot of otherwise good candidates. Unless we want to pretend that getting an AA ten years ago somehow academically prepares you for the rigors of the Program.