Arresting gear was on Mk7. Six versions before the Nimitz class gear. However, going to 3 wires was a stupid move. With 60+ years of experience, 4 wires across the deck proved a really good number. Redundancy when one or two went down, maximum chances to get aboard with the last chance 4 wire. I have personally come aboard with only one wire across the deck because the other 3 arresting gear were down.
One thing is for sure, computer simulations of the designs and real world are two different things. I'm not sure CAD software can account for an 18yo Seaman Apprentice maintaining and operation said equipment. The money isn't there to build something land based and test it out long term so it gets built and tested on a ship in real time. The Ford has not launched 10 planes in a row into the water so it can't be that bad.
I didn't know they went to three wires! Yeah, that seems stupid. I wonder what the thinking was there.
I like new tech. But I like PROVEN and RELIABLE tech (even if old) better.