Two simple facts:

We know fusion works. The evidence burns my neck every summer.

If we don't research fusion energy, the chance of a commercial fusion reactor is zero.

Some opinions:

The article makes a good point in noting that optimism and an impression of certainty on the part of researchers does help bring in the bucks, and the research does have to be watched. This is true of several fields of science.

I believe that this line of research is a vital one, but the current program does have the Achilles' Heel of most major government research projects in that it involves a single, gigantic approach to the problem. I'm curious to know how much research money is going to things like "cold fusion," or Migmacells, to name just two "outside of the box" concepts.