Yeah... It wasn't the technology that made it uber expensive causing budget over runs it was our military making major last minute program scope changes and trying to create a Figher Jet for all with an AF, Navy, and USMC version. Also, I would guess we don't properly push back on the suppliers to get the best possible deals.
I wouldn't say it's light years, but it is probably the second best gen 5 fighter out there next to the Raptor (which is coming up on 20 years old). The F-35 has some of the best stealth technology out there, but the F-22 is still better. F- 22 also has super cruise (able to travel relatively long distances at Mach speeds), which the F-35 does not. F-22 also has thrust vectoring (better maneuverability), and F-35 does not. F-35 is a super computer though; target information can be shared between each fighter or AWACs to more effectively track and kill target and remain stealthy (enemies can track an aircraft's radar emissions). The jamming technology is newer/better. All the software has 20 years of improvements basically. We're not to torrenting on DSL anymore, we're streaming on fiber!
All that said, the Russia SU-57 seems like a fraud. The stealth is poor at best (exposed screws and rivets, you can see the jet engine compressor blades, no coating on the canopy means the pilot and cockpit give a radar return). It is more maneuverable though, but that doesn't matter these days when you have missiles that travel hundreds of miles. Now the Chinese J-20, that's more worrisome. They have a much better grasp of what is needed to be effective than the Russians...