There is little gained in scale when you consider the cost of fuel alone. Even re-usable mass produced rockets require maintenance.

The applications for space by themselves will build demand. You don’t build demand for trans-continental travel by mass producing Segways in place of airplanes to cross the country.

I have almost zero confidence government action will lead to a space elevator, and am very worried intrusive action, most likely by some regulatory regime, will make cashing in on it very hard. Considering how many bad ideas both Nasa and Congress have supported, it probably pays to expect them, and try to prempt them.