I somewhat agree with what you're saying, but eventually it's hard to prove if one way benefits us more than the other, because the benefits of the Apollo program perhaps influenced the space endeavors that improve our life today.
It's definitely debatable and hard to gauge. I just thought I'd throw in the link to show the other side of the argument.
My rule of thumb is that if a goal is thought to be technically possible (although it may have not been done before) and there are people who can execute and have the resources to execute it to any degree, it will probably be done. Especially regardless of anyone else opinion if they are not intimately involved in such processes.
It's definitely debatable and hard to gauge. I just thought I'd throw in the link to show the other side of the argument.