Admittedly biased opinion here (Prowler guy, worked on Growler Fleet Intro team as my last tour in the Navy)...

Especially now with the Growler and its capabilities, "hanging back" during a shooting war is not likely. Talk to the guys that spent thousands of hours over Iraq and Asscrackistan. Regarding career, can't quote you percentages, but a good portion of current CVN COs and XOs come from the VAQ world. As long as they don't run the ship aground (or doink an underling or get a DUI), those guys are pretty much shoe ins for Flag after their CVN command tours. And Whidbey a "downside"? Holy $hit - ever been there??!! Only the most beautiful place in the country with some of the best low level training routes in the world. Other than that, yeah, it sucks.