To be fair, you don't need the radar until bandit is <20 miles. You can see them clearly on data link.
You will however need radar in situation where you are heavily outnumbered and awacs alone misses bandits. They may then sneak up on you with an AIM120. The only warning you will get is the sudden yellow box with f18 but by then SPAMRAAMS are already on their way. They could also fire maddog which is even scarier as no warning except red (120) on HSD. Zero warning whatsoever if you don't have SPJ pod.