From what I know, the US rarely deploys entire squadrons. They usually deploy parts of squadrons, while the remainder of the squadrons aircraft are retained for training or for maintennance. 10 aircraft squadrons are too small, though they are the right size for Navy squadrons because they deploy on carriers.
It must be remembered that the US needs to maintain large numbers of aircraft forward deployed. Arguably there not only needs to be some F-22’s deployed in the US but at least one wing would be needed in Europe and one in Asia. Though Saddam is dead, the Middle East is still highly volatile. In Asia there is a growing number of Flankers so a wing in Japan and maybe another one in Alaska would make sense. The US wings would be used for fattening up forward deployed units in times of crisis.
Though quality is arguably better than quantity, a country such as the US needs both. I don’t think 218 F-22’s are enough, especially once training, maintennance and attrition are taken into account.
Finally though the F-22 may be the be all and end all of modern air superiority fighters, some are likely to be shot down in combat especially if the US decides to take on some better equipped forces. So a few more F-22’s would come in handy.
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