re: Ospreys to get first combat deployment
As do the military, I absolutely love the idea of the Osprey. It's an idea whose time has come in some role or another, though I would suspect these things will be used as extremely expensive short-range transports in non-combat situations.
Given the cost, careers, numbers of casualties and size of this thing, I doubt they'll be in harm's way. There will be a massive PR offensive to justify the expense, but not much combat impact.
Arf