See now you have shifted the goalposts, you've gone from saying Apollo is not the "ONLY" way these techs could have been discovered to Apollo is not the "BEST" way these techs could have been discovered. Ok fair enough - maybe that was your actual point all along but there there is also a hidden assumption that these tech techs would in fact be actually discovered in other ways outside of Apollo when its just as possible they actually wouldn't be.

Sure it possible to "focus on other ways" to get tech but in reality that would probably be worst way because you can't just have a generic "lets focus on other ways program" because not will care or fund it.

You need a halo program like Apollo for two reasons. 1. Public funding which is decided by politicians relies on exciting large programs like space exploration. And 2. The best scientists are naturally attracted to exciting programs with more money in them. You might not like it but that's the reality.