I was lucky enough to see the rocket launch yesterday as it crossed up the horizon and into the blue. All politics aside, I agree with Elon Musk that becoming a multi-planetary species is critical to ensuring the continuity of the human race. If there ever were a cataclysmic asteroid impact, supervolcano, pandemic, or nuclear holocaust, colonies on the Moon and Mars could ensure that mankind does not end with this planet.
Who else had seen the genius connecting Elon's businesses? Solar power and electric vehicles since there are no fossil fuels or wind farms off world. Robots that don't need food or sleep to build and maintain the human habitats. Boring machines to build subterranean structures as protection against cosmic radiation and hostile atmospheres. AI to help humans plan, build, and protect colonies in places we haven't even seen yet. I'm glad he's on our side, and not with China (mostly not) or Russia.
Has to be a lot more than just a presence on other planets. We need to be able to survive without any contact with Earth or its resources.
All of the things you mentioned are going to be critical for off Earth settlement, even for just research, but most people can't see beyond the (undeniable) fact that he's a giant asshole. Even though he hasn't personally invented much of anything, he's at least putting his family's ill gotten gains to good use now. I can at least give him credit for that.