[nickik]

The Shuttle just made the mistake to not be a fully two stage system, it was a strange hybrid.

SpaceX also figured out that vertical landing had many advantages compared to a plane.

[igravious]

Totally. Because NASA, ESA, and others use public money there was less (or little to no) incentive to strive for reusability.

[nickik]

Well, NASA had the right initial idea with the Shuttle, it just that their execution and then evolution of the idea was a total disaster.

[ethbro]

To frame in a comment we often hear around here: if you don't control your funding, you don't control your destiny.

Building anything for the US government that's big enough and has potential military applications is virtually inviting them (and the large project procurement morass they bring) to become involved.

[TremendousJudge]

The Soviet Buran shuttle had the right idea. It didn't have main engines and was launched with the Energia rocket, which could be used independently with other cargo as well. Also, it was capable of fully automated landing, unlike the American Shuttle

[nickik]

It still had the combination of being both human and cargo at once. The BFR would have a cargo, crew and tanker version.