I don't understand geeks' obsessions with space elevators. It's not like materials are the only obstacle holding us back - they would be continually bombarded b

I don't understand geeks' obsessions with space elevators. It's not like materials are the only obstacle holding us back - they would be continually bombarded by meteors, and travelling up them would involve extremely long exposure to the high radiation band of the atmosphere. Now launch loops, that I could get excited about.