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In cash terms maybe but there are a queue of us (many much richer than I) who'd "invest" never expecting any monetary return.

Isn’t that exactly what will happen if they get a gov bailout?

Remember TARP and GM?

Pretty much, but even if the government don't step in (they don't seem particularly pro new tech) I think private people would.

I think the government even made a profit on the Tesla loan didn't it?

SpaceX is not anywhere close to the banking industry of GM in 2008.