It is not scalable anywhere because for it to operate it requires that the battlespace (both in terms of enemy air, and enemy SAM systems) is sanitized. The A-10 would not survive in anything approaching a modern IADS. It would require a better jet to knock out opposition on the air and the ground, enabling the A-10 to do its CAS duties. The only jet that can do so in an modern S-300 IADS environment is the F-22.
What about China? Haven't we learned about wars in Asia yet and attempts to project power across the ocean? Why do we need to fight for Taiwan? We didn't fight for Hong Kong and Macau, we certainly didn't fight for KMT control of the rest of China.
The same could be said about Georgia, or Kuwait. We don't have to fight for them, but that may not be what happened. Also, comparing Hong Kong and Macau to Taiwan is a bit disingenous. Hong Kong reverting to Chinese rule as agreed is quite different from Taiwan being invaded by the Chinese. Furthermore, it is US policy to step in in case Taiwan is threatened.
What is truly strategically important to the US is the entire western hemisphere, and the mineral wealth in Australia and Africa and south, and sources of oil.
My job is a fund manager for a emerging/frontier markets fund, and I can tell you that the Chinese are all over Africa and South America. So, if Africa and S.America are strategically important to the US, well, they already belong to China. So does Australia more and more every 5 years.
The F22 carries 8 missles and 480 rounds. Woohoo! Such firepower! Everyone must be quaking in their boots.
Yes, they are shaking in their boots. Because the AMRAAM-D, matched with the extended range from the Raptor's supercruise, its stealthiness, and its LPI (low probability of intercept) AESA radar, means that each of those missiles is lethal to anything flying out there. They are PETRIFIED to the point of forcing their own 5th generation programs (e.g. the PakFa from Russia and the JXX from China). It also petrifies them because a Raptor with the SBD ...up to 8 of them ...coupled with extended range due to the supercruise launch, can penetrate their vaunted IADS. They are so scared that they are spending billions of Dollars on the issue.
A role NOT carried out by the F22 to date.
Yes, in the same way that the F-15 did not carry out anti Luftwaffe missions in World War 2 ....because it was there for the mission. The Raptor is present now, and it would guarantee USAF air dominance (not superiority ...dominance) for the next 25 to 30 years. The A-10 is a weapon system that while very effective in Iraq, during the Cold War was not expected to survive the Soviets streaming in through the Fulda Gap!
=because it was NOT there for the mission.