Someone to defend the Stick?

The Stick (Kebab / White Elephant etc) seems to have a got a lot of, er
Stick in this news group. No one seems to have much good to say about
it.

Will someone defend / justify it?

Objections seem to be:
1. EELVs can do the job, and they exist. The Stick will simply destroy
private space launch efforts.
2. The costs are going to be high because it comes with all the Space
Shuttle baggage
3. It's not needed. A Shuttle Derived HLV can launch a CEV, Service
Module, and Lunar Access Module to the moon. And for LEO operation, the
Stick (or even the EELV Heavy derivatives) are overkill. 25-45 tons is
not needed for LEO operation.

I like point 3.

Alex

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