The point that is being made here is that cost-to-orbit is not the primary selection metric being used. Take a look at the Space Launch System, for example. It

The point that is being made here is that cost-to-orbit is not the primary selection metric being used. Take a look at the Space Launch System, for example. It's not the best and it sure isn't the cheapest, but reusing factories built for Space Shuttle components does get politicians re-elected!