IMO, NASA needs to leave the near earth ops to the privates and get back to the frontiers. To me, their job is to pave the way for the privates, not unlike the early expeditions out of europe that were state sponsored and ultimately lead to the American colonies or Louis and Clark which paved the way for the westward migrations.
With exception to the research being done on vessels like the ISS which are very important. Especially the studies on the effects of long term living in space on the mind and body.