Yes, when you pour money down the money hole, you do tend to get a few things in return. My real question, which we'll see answered hopefully over the next few years, isn't "Were the capabilities we got with the shuttle cool?" but "Was the shuttle a cost-effective way to obtain those capabilities?"
And it's really hard to look at the Shuttle program and say yes.
In general, we really need to get over whining about what we could have if only we could spend money we don't have.
The time of NASA-monopoly (DARPA) is fading, and the time of commercial space (Xerox PARC/Bell Labs) is just beginning. But it really shouldn't be anything for anyone should get worked up over--Xerox PARC/Bell Labs ushered in golden age of innovation and wealth creation, and DARPA still exists and still does amazing things.
And it's really hard to look at the Shuttle program and say yes.
In general, we really need to get over whining about what we could have if only we could spend money we don't have.