re: Risk and Capitalism
From pg.32 of the Commission's Report:
"It is estimated that over $400 million has been invested in developing technology by the X-Prize competitors that will vie for a $10 million prize – a 40 to 1 payoff for technology."
Seems to me it is actually a 1/40th payoff for investment. It would only be a 40-to-1 payoff for technology if the losers gave all their hardware to the winner. Even then it's not like $400 million in cash. Maybe shop equipment, avionics, tools, etc. might be useful, but not the ship.