Very similar to early air travel. Took government mail contracts to make it viable/profitable.
True and good, but there is an immense disparity in scale, price and public good will. Until quite recently the mail was seen by the public as an essential government service. But even a dedicated space fanatic like me can't honestly countenance the space program as an "essential" government service. There will be pushback, especially at times like now when money is scarce. If history is any predictor, the purse is more likely to spring shut than it is to spring wider.
That said, I hope you are right. Hope is all we have right now.