Well said...couldn't have written it better myself.
We are definitely on the same page in some areas! ;)
But I'm hoping your wrong on this remaining the status quo for the forseeable future. We might get a pleasant surprise from some quarter (new and profitable process discovered on Space Station, real--not imagined--signs of life or former life on Mars or elsewhere, a small private outfit* coming out of left field with something.) Still, like you, at this point I wouldn't bet the farm on it.
*The big companies tend to lose their flair for innovation