Saturn V was a huge feat, but Apollo program consumed about 2 per cent of American GDP in 1965.

This is not a trivial cost. In fact, the nation was so unwilling to carry it on, that Apollo ended and the last footprints on the Moon will soon be fifty years old.

Doing things affordably is a huge, huge leap for mankind (to paraphrase Armstrong). Look, for example, at healthcare. A cancer treatment that costs 1 million USD may be theoretically revolutionary, but out of reach of most people. Drive the cost down to 15 thousand, now that is a real revolution from the point of view of a regular Joe.

Yes - I absolutely agree there is a place for industry, the market and competition; I just find the superiority argument misplaced.