As much was said of the income tax against heavy tarriffs back when the tax was being pushed. You're saying that the sales tax will be small because more will be paying it. That doesn't necessarily follow.
I'd dispute the notion that only 50% of the people earning livings in the US pay income taxes. That means 50% of the people are not paying taxes. If that's true, which I doubt, obviously they are not just protesting taxes by not paying them. Only a very few. The others have a reason and that reason probably has to do with not being able to survive when prices are 30% higher.
Anytime there is a foot in the door, the gap gets wider. The rate will always creep up. The income started at what? And it is now what? No reason to expect that process to cease with a NRST. Because people will be confronted with it every day? They'll adjust without revolt, just they adjust without revolt to some of the most egregious things happening in the country now.
The income tax has limits to its abuse. An NRST has no limits.