The Saturn V program did bring some benefits. Better global communications, a bunch of tech advances, some actually really useful science etc.
But unlike the Soviet program which aimed to build human presence and capabilities in space (hence the space station focus) the US program had one focus; beat the Soviets and maintain US ability to stop the Soviets.
You see the various scientists in the US program complain again and again that this particular approach is a tech dead end used simply because it is faster.
The Soviets were a little guilty of this as well, but they'd put up long term tech before it was tested instead, hence Soyuz 1.
The Saturn V program did bring some benefits. Better global communications, a bunch of tech advances, some actually really useful science etc.
But unlike the Soviet program which aimed to build human presence and capabilities in space (hence the space station focus) the US program had one focus; beat the Soviets and maintain US ability to stop the Soviets.
You see the various scientists in the US program complain again and again that this particular approach is a tech dead end used simply because it is faster.
The Soviets were a little guilty of this as well, but they'd put up long term tech before it was tested instead, hence Soyuz 1.