It’s also easily swappable and if they still had to put a new one on every time, I don’t think it really changes how quickly the whole platform can be ready for another launch. What matters is turnaround time, not obsessing over whether every last component makes it back in flyable condition. I personally don’t think having a consumable hot stage ring would detract from the significance of a fully reusable starship platform.

SpaceX has yet to fly a used booster. They still need to finish the second tower and catch a starship. They haven’t even recovered an orbital starship so little is known about how much refurbishment the heat shield will need.

I don’t know why the comic author chose the hot stage ring to focus on when there’s major milestones that have yet to be completed.

It’s the spleen of the starship?