Ares I or 70 SpaceXs? Kind of sums it up...

NASA should focus on missions and leave Earth to orbit transport to the private sector.

"As an example, SpaceX was built from scratch and has developed two launch systems (the Falcon 9 is currently scheduled for its first flight in February of next year) and a pressurized crew-and-cargo return capsule for less money than the Ares I-X flight test alone. For what NASA proposes to spend on Ares I itself, (forget about the heavy-lifter and the Orion crew module), it could form seventy SpaceXs."