This simply isn't true. Various countries bought F-35 even after recognizing it's far more of a geopolitical PITA than Rafale or Gripen because F-35 is world-beating. It is that much better than the competition that putting up with various restrictions is almost always worth it.

Where the competition is less slanted, yes you see countries selecting Leopard for their MBT over Abrams (the US won't sell the advanced Abrams armor packages). But when it's F-35 vs. literally anything else, the competition is for second place. You only really choose something else when F-35 isn't an option at all. Threats aren't needed when you just have to do a fly-off.