Disclaimer: I work on a stellarator. Specifically, the first MHD optimized stellarator and the first with 3D modular coils. W7-X is the only other one in the

Disclaimer: I work on a stellarator. Specifically, the first MHD optimized stellarator and the first with 3D modular coils. W7-X is the only other one in the world. I feel that the current state of stellarator theory is encouraging. Coil optimization has integrated lots of important factors into their cost functions, including tolerance. Flux surface geometry optimization has integrated theoretical turbulence models into the cost functions. A pure MHD optimized machine will not be a fusion reactor, but we don't know enough about turbulent transport to build a working machine today. We need mid-scale machines to develop the theory. Tokamaks get the vast majority of the funding because their performance metrics are higher, but imo stellarators are capable of matching tokamaks in performance with much less control issues.