There is a certain margin of safety with these machines. It would be defensible to approach or exceed it in combat and training for combat. That kind of training can be done on the ranges where the public is safe. Putting civilian spectator's lives in jeopardy for the sake of recruiting is just foolish.
The whole "cool" issue is just too immature to even discuss. It's adolescent! I respect the skill, training, and devotion of our pilots. It's a waste of that skill, training, and devotion (not to mention a multi-million dollar aircraft) to lose them for the sake of an air show.
GW