1) There was no suggestion of name though did put the aircraft in the category of Mig-21's. The name given to Mig-21 was though the congress.
In the present scenario, everything is changed, that's why the Air Superiority Fighter plane SU-30 MKI, with Super Sukhoi Upgrade, will give the MKI some Ground Attack, and SEAD/DEAD Capability. Actually every plane would need to have some sort of Multirole capability, and the plan is to equip every combat plane in IAF with AESA MMR.
As far as Role is Considered,
Air Superiority -- Super Sukhoi 30 MKI, Mig 29 UPG till FGFA take over.
MultiRole -- Mirrage 2000/5 UPG, and Rafale F3
Deep Strike -- Jaguar Darin 3, Rafale
Interceptors --- Mig 21 (Will start retiring from 2018/19 till 2024) by LCA MK-1
CAS/Ground attack -- Present MIG-27 UPG( Will get retire from 2017 onwards), Combat Hawk, and USAV.
Recce --- Mig 27 will be replaced by UAVs.
SEAD/DEAD -- Super Sukhoi 30 MKI, Rafale, Jaguar Darin 3
Maritime Strike -- Jaguar IM UPG, MKI
2)The story that you have quoted about HF-24 Marut aircraft should have given India the confidence to continue production for a longer period, however that never happened.
Problem was the condition at that time, when USA, UK, and west considered India in the Soviet Block.
3) The engine produced for HF-24 should have continued and when the initial design of the LCA was launched should have incorporated that engine, however that did not happen.
The Engine was of UK, and India did try to acquire engine with JV with Egypt, but Egypt later abandoned the project, thus HF-24 remains underpower. The last nail was the acquasition of the Jaguars in IAF which IAF was following for the long period of time, which was developed as the LIFT.
4) The Kaveri Engine which was supposed to power the LCA did not make it through after spending millions.
Kaveri, was just the prototype, the proof of concept of the technology. The last target of the Kaveri is the supersonic flight testing on the Mig-29, and after that the uprated engine, based on the Kaveri tech. will be produced. PS the Kaveri project was only delinked from the LCA project. The engine is planned to get mass production something around 2024-25. and even if Kaveri was ready, it would have been powered by F-404IN20 because new, and unreliable airframe is only powered by reliable powerplant, is the standard procedure.
5) True the F404IN20 is a very reliable engine but it has some serious issues regarding exports.
Can you explain what issues regarding exports. If you think, that F404 could not be used for the export to other countries, that the internal requirement of LCA is already big, and by the way its the MK-2 which will be exported by 2025+, till then Kaveri, and indigenous Aesa MMR UTTAM, and ASTRA MK-2 BVR should get ready.