> "The challenge is the materials that compose the reactor become brittle and highly radioactive far faster than usable. Controlled fusion as an energy source isn't just challenging because fusion is difficult, it's also challenging because materials don't handle neutron bombardment well."

Isn't that problem solved with aneutronic fusion?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aneutronic_fusion

Of course we should focus on getting fusion working (working in the sense of providing more energy than we put in), regardless of whether we use the aneutronic approach or not, but as the field develops I'm optimistic we'll find ways to have robust fusion reactors.