I’m pretty sure the reason a lot of it is behind such gatekeeping and onerous sales process crap is because of ITAR. Dealing with American companies is the god

I’m pretty sure the reason a lot of it is behind such gatekeeping and onerous sales process crap is because of ITAR. Dealing with American companies is the god damn worst for anything like this. So much so I’ll actively avoid anyone US based. I am building a satellite, and America has lots of cool space tech… but it’s globally second class compared with any other country since some of them give so little of a shit about arms control (they import their real weapons from countries like the USA, UK, etc and so any space tech is just so tiny a niche businesses they don’t care) that it’s more paperwork to get through customs upon arrival than it is to buy stuff like solar panels and other basic stuff from the USA due to ITAR. Get that from the USA and your basically in for a polite colonoscopy before they even tell you their prices (only slightly exaggerating)