Your beef seems to be more with expensive fighter programs than expensive salvage efforts. I don't see how this really relates to the discussion.
Don't underestimate the power of icons. These are the rockets that put us on the moon, and a private citizen is planning on recovering them for posterity, using his own money. Hopefully future generations will be inspired to explore because of this wealthy man's efforts (or 'playtime', as you put it). This should be celebrated.
How about we kill the F35 and F22 planes entirely and make a Mars mission instead?
We're going to be neck deep in drones in this country and around the world within a few years, expensive fighter jets are now worthless.