I suppose, if one weren't already familiar with the idea, and if the article Barry read didn't include any explanation of how a space elevator would actually work and the ways in which it would differ from a typical Otis freight elevator, it might seem a kind of an odd notion.

But, yeah. It's easy to forget that there are people who aren't familiar with the idea of space elevators...

Now I want to go reread some Kim Stanley Robinson.

Or Arthur C. Clarke, who is also a public advocate for this endeavor.

ahem. I'm ashamed to say I didn't know what a space elevator was until I read your post and asked my husband about it. He demonstrated using an apple and a skewer. It was really funny. He went into "teacher mode" which is funny since he's never been a teacher. :)