They already say that the ITER will produce power far beyond break even. But it wouldn't make sense to build a commercial reactor until the process is understood. The experimental reactor will cost $billions, and take 20 years to run its course. The delay is not because they don't think they can produce power, but that they can't perfect their methods. The experimental reactor hasn't even been built yet. They've got to run experiments. Who knows, maybe after a few years of experiments they will decide they have enough information to build a commercial reactor.

I think fusion has really suffered from a lack of honesty in the scientific field. Nobody believes what they say anymore.