[inglor_cz]

Needs tend to develop once the means are there.

200 years ago, there was no need to use electricity. 100 years ago, there was no need to use a programming language. 30 years ago, there was no need for gigabit wireless Internet.

[TeMPOraL]

Or perhaps earlier and closer to the heart of USA's citizens, 300 years ago, there was no need for rail lines and trains.

[Animats]

> Needs tend to develop once the means are there.

Counterexample: space stations. We've had small manned space stations for decades now, but no real application for them. They're national prestige items only.

[rodiger]

Not true! The ISS has functioned as an outpost for science- 3,000+ experiments and counting

https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/five-space-station-res...

[mrguyorama]

And most importantly for anyone who cares about space the way Elon claims to: The ISS has done pretty much all the research we have on how humans survive in space.

[Animats]

The hazards of living in zero-G were understood at the end of the Mir era.

[pixl97]

Because launch cost is expensive. There are a lot of interesting things we can develop in zero gravity if the cost per pound was cheap.

[seadan83]

This feels like tautological reasoning. Since you said, "tend" - are there any counter examples that you can think of?

[inglor_cz]

Some marginal ones.

We have the means to build pyramids or moa statues (Easter Island-style) much more quickly and efficiently that the ancients did, but we don't feel the need anymore.

[JacobThreeThree]

Nobody will ever need more than 640k of RAM.