That's especially the case when you consider that the proposed track across CA is really a fairly short track on which the Hyperloop would not save a great deal

That's especially the case when you consider that the proposed track across CA is really a fairly short track on which the Hyperloop would not save a great deal of time in aggregate: the Hyperloop has a passenger capacity of about 10% of high-speed rail. It's obvious that given the economic/technical costs the Hyperloop imposes, it's way more marginally efficient to build a Shinkansen or TGV-like system. The Hyperloop might be worth pursuing it it were 10% of the price of HSR, but that's just not anywhere near the case, as other commenters have duly pointed out.