Modern fighter jets have many functional subdivisions. Often, the air forces of large countries will have different fighters with different functions, and they form a large formation of fighters that work in concert with each other.
Smaller air forces, on the other hand, usually have trouble affording such a large expenditure, and they favor multi-mission fighters.
For example: the IAF's Rafale is a typical multi-mission fighter. In fact, most of the European countries prefer multi-mission fighters.
The same is true for the PAF; the J-10C was originally an air superiority fighter, but its foreign trade version (PAF version) became a multi-mission fighter. I personally don't agree with this choice of PAF. I think PAF should have opted for a purely air superiority version of the J-10CE.
Being able to do everything also means not being able to do anything best.
However, PAF has opted for a multi-mission version of the J-10CE. Well, when PAF is procuring the J-35, I hope they go for the pure air superiority version to form a combination with the multi-mission version of the J-10CE.
All 5G fighters are very expensive to maintain. It's a price that has to be paid.
China can do it:
Same class of fighters, we have the lowest price.
Same price fighter, we have the best performance.
The two threads on J-35 in the PDF are very detailed and accurate. I suggest you go back and read about it before making a judgment.