I think the jury might still be out on Tesla's ultimate direction...as in where they'll be in 15 years. When someone says "might have had a better chance" then I'd have to ask at what?? Tesla might be the dominant battery company in 15-20 years that supplies the now majority of cars that are electric...no longer making cars themselves. Elon Musk isn't known for being the most upfront guy and I think he's going to go in whatever direction that suits the times and where Tesla can profit. I would think it might be easier to control the battery market with a superior product that includes related technologies ( not just for powering cars ) versus trying to corner the market on autos sold in the U.S. competing against the Big Three and everyone else. Bill Gates had his "monopoly moment" when he signed on the dotted line with IBM. Who's to say that something similar won't happen here....