I think the spoilers were chosen over ailerons in part because it was easier to engineer that way with the adjustable swept wings, in addition to the short approach and landing assistance spoilers can provide; but I might be wrong. In the picture, I can't tell if the outer control surfaces are ailerons or just flaps
All flaps. It had no ailerons at all. It used stabilators, aka tailerons, which were assisted by the wing spoilers at slower speeds for roll.
They gutted them cause it cost a fortune to maintain less capability then an all F-18 navy.
Their time came ; Their time went.
The USN, like all services, have to answer to the budget axe now that the Cold War is over. The Tomcat was a great plane and it did give us a few advantages but it wasnt worth the cost of keeping them in the air.
Umm, no, they were much more capable at the mission they were developed for than hornets and I believe more versatile overall than most gave them credit for. But yes, they were expensive and like many things Congress screws with, had issues.
I will always miss seeing them in the air.