I dont understand where this comment is coming from. What sources are you using the make the cost claims you are making and/or the reliability requirements and/or heatshield requirements?
> Shotwell estimated the ticket cost would be somewhere between economy and business class on a plane — so, likely in the thousands of dollars for transoceanic travel. “But you do it in an hour.”
I based reliability requirements on passenger jet travel and the risk people would be willing to take for non space-tourism transport.
Also, I don't see how the tiles can be fully uniform except on the cylindrical part. The geometry of the nose part I don't think would allow it mathematically. Shuttle tiles often only differed in thickness based on needed heat withstanding, and could be generated by cnc processes automatically. Spacex may want something similar to optimize weight, especially since they are planning computer controlled install as well for most of them.
