It seems likely that the energy angle of NIF is mostly PR for a nuclear weapons research program. But it is hardly serious to dismiss a research project becaus

It seems likely that the energy angle of NIF is mostly PR for a nuclear weapons research program. But it is hardly serious to dismiss a research project because of test costs and that tests can only be run once a month. For instance, the Polywell WB-8 isn't exactly outputting more energy than is needed to run it, either. High energy laser costs seems to be going down fast; maybe they really can make that pig fly...