I'd rather a model be super expensive and cure cancer than not exist at all
This would be a much more insightful comment if the model actually cured cancer.
Whoever eventually "cures cancer" will be using one or more AI models heavily in the course of their work. Probably very strong, expensive ones.
That's about all you can say for sure, especially about a topic that is so broad as to be virtually meaningless.
Seriously though, does every model have to be affordable? Can't there be a model analogue of a rolex/ferrari?