the other F104s i cant really comment on ive always known they were in a bad place before the changes to the FM, however, that doesnt excuse the fact that the F104A and C can completely dominate 9.0. 8.7 8.3 and even up to 9.7, the F104C can use rockets as flares, the F104A can use the 9Bs to overcome all aspects in head on, there is nothing say a swift f1 or a mig17 can do reliably to an F104, mig19, etc.
we all sit and shout about what jet or tank is better or worse, objectively the entire gamei s compressed to death, and we need even more decompression, the F4 phantom should never be seeing gripens for example.
edit we need to stop pushing stuff down, and start spreading the BRs out and up, the F104 ASA etc would be fine at 12.0 if it wasnt .3 off of the F14 for example.