Even governmentally financing thorium has that same risk... we might ensconce some sub-optimal thorium technology.
I’d say that the answer will be encouraged by evolving ideas of what is acceptable behavior from a nuclear reactor. If it needs to be independently powered, for one thing, to avert a significant disaster — maybe this will become intolerable, like we would not countenance a car that had no seat belts, whatever freedom we might like in actually using them.
Government doesn’t need to finance or subsidize private use of anything to make a difference.
Suppose the government was offered thorium reactors to power all their bases, buildings, and naval vessels ? All the technology needs to do is be cheaper than the alternatives and the government AS A CUSTOMER willing to be first can establish an industry. The government is a HUGE customer in way too many areas, but it is also a FOOLISH customer.
The only problem I have with such things is that the government always seems to pay up front, the end product is never done on schedule and doesn’t work as well as promised, and then the government just writes it off because it is taxpayer money and nobody will be held accountable for losing it. Government grants are just another form of it.I wish the government would never pay for any product until it is delivered and working to spec. No other customer would be so foolish.