Prematurely retired. It had longevity, variable geometry wings, superb range, AIM-54 Phoenix, brute power, carrier borne and the F-14 was quite simply the sexiest jet to ever fly.
It was certainly all that you state and of course had a greater range than the F/A-18C with the GE F110 engine enabling the problems of the TF30 in the F-14A to be firmly put in the past. Also it should not be forgotten its Bombcat role its first operational mission being Operation Desert Fox. A true classic which should easily hold its place in aviation history. I wonder how many of the Iranian aircraft are still in flyable condition.