[Poohbah]

However, that means you have the high-value airframes out well ahead of the fighters...and if the bad guy gets wise, you now have the EA-6B in a dogfight mode.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Incorrect. Prudent mission tasking always dictates the launching of fighter cover for CAP with the Prowlers or rendezvous with fighters prior to arrival at the insertion point. If enroute the Prowler detects a threat emitter, it can be suppressed with a HARM, which the EA-6B is/can be armed with.