This is supposed to be a step forward. It is possible that liability issues are a large part of the story, and not just a fig leaf. In that case, the problem may be even more serious, because then maybe a key to success in developing commercial human spaceflight is not allowing Americans to be involved-except as paying customers. In the case of ISS, such a scheme may actually be a step forward, because new management, with agendas totally decoupled from those of the developers of ISS, may be the only thing that gets the public closer to personal access to space. But I have one cautionary note.
Unbiased information is often hard to find.
Prices are often higher than they need to be. And the food is usually lousy. I hope an ISS authority can do better than this.