I completely agree with your cyniical fusion prognoses and have posted the similar outlooks here myself, however we know of ZERO physical laws that say fusion power is not possible. You may well be correct that ITER scale multi-billion dollar fusion research is a boondoggle. I find it difficult to do a precise risk reward analysis on fusion research funds and have a bias for modest scale experiments to demonstrate feasibility. What's disheartening is the ongoing human propensity for scientists to 'spin' their research in a was to get it funded. That applies to many areas beyond fusion.