Pecan

Missed what you were referring to. Sorta of hidden in line one is that you would be wasting funds and losing contracts. By going straight to escape the atmosphere and go to orbit, you would miss those opportunities to gain reputation, science points, and easy income while using the cheapest cost rocket design possible.

With some different design for the orbital craft, it's cost could be lowered. However, that launch had to be made under the 18 ton limit. With the improvements made to KSP, Jeb can now EVA in space and a more efficient rocket built to do a Mun flyby.