Sorry, but you've just revealed your ignorance. The Shuttle flies that high because that's the mission it was designed to fly. Go do some research on selection of orbits for space missions to get a better understanding of the rationale.
Moreover, the distance from Earth has nothing to do with the complexity of the Shuttle. The requirement to return, land like an airplane, and be launched again is the driver for the Shuttle's complexity.
And you are showing your poor attempt as being superior.
The point is that the missions were flawed to begin with. Does the ability to land like a plane REALLY help our space program? It's overly complex for no true benefit. Compare that to something like, I don't know, giving us a system that can get us to a lagrange point? You know, the thing that MUST be done to truely advance Human space flight?
The point you are missing is that the distance from Earth has EVERYTHING to do with continuing the advancement of human space flight.