Burt Rutan is definitely a great designer, but please don't buy the hype. What besides the "feathered re-entry" and a different rocket fuel has he done in space that Nasa hasn't. In fact, he uses technology that Nasa developed. The first computers were only available to goverment, but as technology improved and costs dropped they became available to you and I. The same happens with space technology. As the technology improves, prices drop and it becomes available to the masses to use. I love Burt and his accomplishments, but I also see alot of people have bought the Discovery Channel hype. Launching a few seat of the pants sub-orbital made for TV flights is really nothing compared to sending people to the moon, or rovers to Mars, or Voyager to the ends of the solar system. As for the source of the funds...a pile of money is a pile of money no matter where it comes from.
As a Space enthusiast, I support both Nasa AND Burt, and the numerous other private and Goverment space endeavors.
Succeed within a
limited budget and a
limited time frame.