"Think I'll wait for the space elevator. It will take about the same time to construct. "
People have been saying the same thing about fusion drives for the last 50 years or more. I think you should stop and consider the possibility you might be waiting forever. None of the more exotic launch ideas show any sign of being used soon. This "something better will come along" mantra is not what drives innovation. Hands on engineering does. We have to use workable technologies to the best of our ability and discover new concepts along the way. Plain straightforward trial and error. Orion is the best technology available and the sooner we start developing it the sooner interplanetary manned spaceflight will become a reality.
"Sometimes the rewards are worth risk. People seem to forget that these days."
The rewards are incredible. Material resources alone are astronomical. Asteroids could easily be turned into fleets of ships, space stations and solar arrays. Unlimited electricity means cheap Hydrogen too. Most people would then change over to electric or Hydrogen cars to save a fortune in fuel costs. The environment would be saved as fossil fuel industries went belly up. Conquering space would have massive consequences down here. People don't seem to realise that. They think it only means a flag ceremony on Mars. Not with a big Orion launch. It gives us a permanent foothold in space and the kind of payload capability that can really achieve things. We are after all explorers and discoverers. Space is the only direction left that is truly challenging and this is the best answer to getting established out there.
http://www.projectorion.com