ok.... forget low earth orbit or space launch. how about traveling merely on the surface... where it is about to be tested (even if just a prototype around 240 mph.). From all the promo videos, it seems the initial pitch is for commuter travel... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_rail ...hence the "hidden" agenda.?
High speed rail is what he's emulating. That's exactly what he's going for. So I repeat - Elon Musk has never expressed the slightest interest in high speed rail. He's a space guy, through and through, who ventured into electric cars because he saw a place to disintermediate. He's a space guy, through and through, who ventured into solar power because he saw a need for low-cost green power. Besides which, what part of point-to-point travel is a "loop?" You're going to go LA to SF... and back on the same trip?