They haven't proven to be ducks for modern missile systems yet, though. And we've used our carrier strike forces to devastating effect in many countries since WWII. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan didn't see any major naval losses, and would have been impossible without the ability to project power and air supremacy clear across the globe that our Navy affords us. Sure, most countries don't need to be able to wage those kinds of wars and thus don't need such naval capabilities, but you're also not a first rate power if you can't do that.