Maybe we should call the USA version of HSR "HSR" - for "Higher Speed Rail" - not Shinkansen-speed, not TGV-speed - not MAGLEV-speed -- just faster enough to help a lot of people get where they want to be significantly faster - without having to drive . Driving interferes with texting -- drivng loses.
All that about population density and relative costs still holds, and is obvious.
BUT -- either I text while I drive --> die.
OR - I ride some bus or something, and can work the whole trip.