Manned spaceflight is like any other ability; don't exercise it for a while and it is lost. A human future in the solar system is going to depend on our ability to develop and improve our ability to keep people alive and happy in space. Respectfully, I feel that the path you are such a strong advocate of would not result in a a better human future in space a few steps further down the line but would be the death of human spaceflight. I fear that no one would rebuild the technology to keep people alive in space once it has been lost.

I would like to explore the deep ocean in person, as much as I would love to walk on the moon in person. How awesome would it be to actually stand next to a black smoker and see the creatures that live there? A computer screen just isn't the same, and I am a little disapointed that no one will be walking up to one in a suit for a long time to come.