Monica! As ugly as it was, the vortex lift leading edge spoiler that popped up on top of the wing is really innovative and patented if my memory is correct. When this program was going on, I totally let that detail slip through unseen. I think their is room for a “Delta” wing in our various service branches especially it the folding wing is done right, they will take up a very small footprint on a Carrier. Imagine this as a low wing with side air-inlets or Yf-23-ish inlets, that might have worked.
No doubt it had some technical advancements, so did the Edsel.
Another fact to consider is when our jets land in a foreign land the appearance of projection of power come into play. When every dog within miles run up to the jet and start humping the landing gear the power thing doesn’t work.