I've always likeed the AJACS, but I have to agree with your assesment that as an aerospace fighter it was of limited use, expecially since the transformation mechanism was just downright bad (I know - I frame captured it off VHS almost 15 years ago to analyze it.

I've done frame-by-frames of the transformation from it. The AJACS was one of my favorites, too. I saw it filling the kind of role the Harrier does for any space-borne force. Think about it: A V/STOL aerospace system with a decent ground-attack/anti-ship/CAS capability that doesn't need prepared planetary bases for operations.