My cousin has related stories of the A-10 watching over him and his troops. Bullets most definitely were the main item related. The A-10's ability to stay above his group and fire a couple of rounds every so often allow them to sleep. The F-35 or B-1 is not going to do that. Drones don't currently do that. The goal is to safeguard the troops and bullets work very well.

The Air Force hates CAS and will say anything to get out of it. The fact that a modern version of the A-10 has not been developed (the F-35 is not a modern version) says everything about the Air Force's direction.