RE: A call for Mini-Aircraft Carriers: Here's why...
What you are describing is what's happening just this minute. However, that's not what's coming.
China is already waging the opening stages of a Cold War.
They are working on a ten fleet carrier fleet and they are also building the Type 075, which is an LHD of a similar size to the America class. They don't currently have a VSTOL, but are working on it. They have three Type 075s being built now.
I'm also not sure I am sold on the idea 20 35Bs are enough to defeat the Iranians, frex. Why? Not because the Iranians are amazing pilots with awesome tech, but because the readiness of aircraft at any moment, like ships, can be as little as 1/3.
The V-22 has a roll on refueling capability the Marines have been working on, to be sure, but that will take away from how many 35Bs you can put on the deck. Likewise, the awacs and EW capabilities are not currently present for the Americas either: the Marines are working on the MUX, but it will be a while as yet.
TBH, had you suggested this back in the late 90s, I might have been onboard. I think there is a role for a light carrier, especially when stocked with mud movers, but as is...if we are going to be contesting the sea again (as is likely), then we really, really do need the fleet carriers: we are about to face a near peer, something we've not had in over 25 years.
https://steemit.com/history/@patriotschoice/sea-control-ship-united-states-mini-aircraft-carrier-spain-and-thailand
The Sea Control Concept...This is not the first go around for the navy with these types of concepts. The designs are viable and the USS Guam proved it successful in the sense they could support the mission sets their air wings were designed for in her case it was ASW.
I am aware. Zumwalt pushed the idea in the 1970s and then when the VSTOL XVF-12 'cratered,' the SCS was concept was shelved. Now we have a VSTOL that might work, but the problem may be as soon as China has a 5th gen on her decks with a catapult, the SCS will be woefully outgunned.