Looks like a similar thing happened then. Apparently, the RAF ( or more correctly, MoD) also had conflicts between home-grown designs, the PC9 and the Tucano; the latter, as you know, won the day. I have heard though, that the final decision, apart from costs, also had something to do with the political situation re Northern Ireland, and Shorts of Belfast got the contract.
Done a bit of checking since the last posr. It seems that Pilatus were influenced by design features of the Brazilian Tucano, which led, in part, to development of the PC9 over the PC7.
Overall, though, it is remarkable how similar these aircraft look. The British contender, the Firecracker, also looked very similar. Put the Pilatus, Tucano and Firecracker alongside each other, in RAF trainer colours, and they'd look almost the same! Like your bit about the cartoons!
Terry.