Sure sounds like you're trying to "justify a preconceived opinion".
> The public is less served and engaged and exited per visit/hour/etc seeing pristine vehicles from behind a rope in an air conditioned building.
The Smithsonian's responsibility is, in part, to many, many future generations of the public.
> Letting the public visit these things in the most ideal setting (which is typically whatever is closest to operating conditions)…
Again, that's either a hangar, or space. "Outside" is the spot it spent the least time, and visitors don't hugely appreciate a vacuum chamber from the inside.
> The degradation of visitor experience at that point is acceptable because the item is older, more "historical" etc.
That's essentially the opposite of how these things work.
> This is something that maritime museums have long since figured out.
> The public is less served and engaged and exited per visit/hour/etc seeing pristine vehicles from behind a rope in an air conditioned building.
The Smithsonian's responsibility is, in part, to many, many future generations of the public.
> Letting the public visit these things in the most ideal setting (which is typically whatever is closest to operating conditions)…
Again, that's either a hangar, or space. "Outside" is the spot it spent the least time, and visitors don't hugely appreciate a vacuum chamber from the inside.
> The degradation of visitor experience at that point is acceptable because the item is older, more "historical" etc.
That's essentially the opposite of how these things work.
> This is something that maritime museums have long since figured out.
Some indeed have! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasa_Museum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Rose_Museum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-505 etc.