Your human psychology analysis was spot on. Your prescription felt less of a bull's-eye to me: (1) many people aren't good at performing to religious standards; (2) profit motives are pervasive in business at all levels (and among individuals); and (3) it's hard for me to imagine enough change in the time needed without the wealthy and powerful of the world driving it.

If billionaires abandoned their space programs, giving pledges, etc, and pooled their money on several key manhattan projects (batteries, new materials?) the power of the almighty dollar might save humanity from its wiling spirit and weak flesh.

Since it hasn't happened by now, it's highly unlikely it will, to say the least. But it seems less like swimming against the current of human nature than other prescriptions.