I always considered the Mk1 and Mk 111 Meteors "production" models, as they were used operationally, much the same as the Me 262 1a was a production model. I'm happy to be wrong, but the 262 was rushed into service before it was fully sorted, due to the deteriorating situation, and conventional piston engined Luftwaffe fighters were being overwhelmed. There was no need to "perfect" the Meteor in 1944/45 as the war was being won with existing aircraft. It is almost identical to the German mindset of 1939/40when the Me 262 was placed on the backburner, as Blitzkrieg was achieving stunning victories with Bf 109's and Stuka's. There was no need for advanced aircraft as the job was being done with what they had. Another angle on this "best jet fighter" theme is the Heinkel He 280, which was flying on pure jet power while the Me 262 protoypes were barely getting airborne with a prop in the nose. Tricycle undercarriage, ejector seat, 3 20mm cannons in the nose, and performance capabilities superior to the Fw 190 in 1943! Nothing came of it of course, but it does deserve a mention in this thread.