Cheap minerals, zero gravity manufacturing, and solar powered smelters... Space, taking manufacturing out of your backyard.

Let's face it, why do all the dirty work on the planet?
(picture of factories)
Let's move them out of the yard so we can plant more trees...

No one expected Velcro, teflon, Microwave ovens, etc, etc to come from the space program, but now they are a part of your life. What could be next?

and in the "works for geeky old me, but probably not for the masses"

Space, because being at the bottom of a gravity well is bad tactics!