Sure but "earlier in the process"? SpaceX is trying to become passenger-safe as ...

sarchertech · on March 24, 2016

Meaning that they can then use the money they're making launching satellites and restocking the ISS to pay for the development of passenger rockets.

Boom can't do this. Unlike SpaceX, they need enough investment money to take them all the way to passenger-safe.

Also passenger safe for a few highly trained and risk aware astronauts is a lower bar than passenger safe for the general public.