We must've read different articles. I read a rant about why people like Elon Musk should never be followed and ideas like the Hyperloop should never be pursued. So that's what I respond to.
His verifiable criticisms of the Hyperloop, they're probably true, good chance that people would get seasick in it, and that the capsules are too small and that corrections for this might make the project financially infeasible.
I am not sure how valid criticisms on technicalities are relevant to the argument of whether we should pay attention when people like Elon Musk pitch us new and exciting ideas.
Even if this project instead of 10 billion is more like the high speed train and would cost more like 100 billion, even if it was more expensive. Even if people could get sick in it.
Wouldn't it still be an interesting idea worth investigating? Wouldn't it be possible these are hurdles we could overcome? Elon Musk seems to think they are, and Elon Musk has a PhD in overcoming hurdles..
It looks like there are two entirely different sets of concerns here. One concern is the technical feasibility of Hyperloop; your concern is to justify your hero-worship of Elon Musk.
Personally, I find it questionable that an automobile entrepreneur is choosing to publicize this concept but invest nothing into building it himself, as if to spread FUD about high speed rail. Calling Musk out for that and for not showing his work when it comes to costs and numbers is appropriate whether or not it offends your hero worship.
His verifiable criticisms of the Hyperloop, they're probably true, good chance that people would get seasick in it, and that the capsules are too small and that corrections for this might make the project financially infeasible.
Not sure how that's relevant though.