To get this technology to work as envisioned will require hundreds of technical breakthroughs across many fields.
I think that this is where Musk's endeavors are different and why Tesla stock prices are constant source of disbelief.
He is able to successfully sell grand vision - and moreover - support it by showing results. Sure there is good old Toyota, it makes good reliable cars but it's just a car, there is no vision - I think that some people may want to buy Tesla or other Musk's company product just to indirectly support other projects.
> true scientists lose their jobs because of the lack of NIH or NSF grants for their quality research
Advertising and marketing is important. Doing things in the open does matter, live streaming double booster landing, pointing out that small steps here and there lead to big grand dream of landing on other planet does matter.