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NASA just constantly boxes itself into corners like these, going with the “least worst” option.

Here’s an interesting article talking about how they came to the conclusion that the RS-25 was the only way to go;

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/01/nasa-defends-restart...

Does NASA have any choice? It seems like the political environment in which they operate makes it essentially impossible to pursue any kind of sane long-term strategy.

There is an absolutely solid book on the subject of how NASA comes to make decisions. The Space Shuttle Decision[1]. I say solid and not good because it's easily the most boring book I've read this year being composed entirely of bureaucracy.

1. https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4221/contents.htm

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