We could have great public systems, but their is a fundamental problem that perpetually keeps these systems unstable:

The people who pay the most for these systems use them the least, and the people who pay the least for them use them the most.

At best you can have a system where the people paying for it are respected for their contribution (and likewise feel good about it), and the people using it are ever grateful for what their receive (and can shamelessly feel good about it).

But man, have you ever dealt with average humans?