If you have a decent option available for less than starlink, you should be using it.

Starlink is for people with no options, or shit options (like rural dsl, or viasat/Hughes net)

Not in the same way - starlink/TMobile solution is limited to text/voice due to data rate limitations with their solution. ASTS's significantly larger antennas are the secret sauce for doing D2D broadband

I'd actually like to see them merge, because adding laser link backhaul into the starlink constellation would make a killer solution.

NASA also pays an inflated cost from extra requirements then put on the launch. If they just purchase ootb launches it would be much cheaper.