[riskycodes]

I agree with a number of the comments here that this is a false dichotomy in terms of the technology itself (as mypastself says, Nanofabrication and fusion reactors are both “cool” and “cozy”), but understanding that people's motivations probably are dichotomous is important – if we can find technology that is both "cool" and "cozy", the incentives for both groups to work on that technology are increased, and I would guess this increase is probably multiplicative, rather than additive. Bernie isn't going to persuade Elon not to build his cool stuff and work on cozy stuff instead, but if he can find applications for what Elon is building to help with his cozy motivations, then more people will benefit.