[chad_oliver]

You have to accelerate the rocket back to the launchpad if you want to land on solid ground -- there's no convenient landmasses at the right distance. That takes fuel.

[refurb]

I assume the rocket is in geosynchronous orbit? Otherwise it would just be a timing issue (i.e. fire the rockets when you're over land).

[wavesum]

The booster never reaches orbit as it is on a ballistic trajectory