Launch costs using SpaceX are much lower for the customer because Elon throws a bunch of his money into paying for then. Costs for Atlas and Delta are comparably higher because ULA does not kick $100 million just cause they are trying to be a rocket company, they already are. His fly back booster is a definite cost saver, but I wonder what the refurbishment costs are. SpaceX has done some amazing things, don't get me wrong, but Elon is a bit smug and hes only had a few failures and with each he learns but there will be more, and I hope he doesn't kill anyone in his rush to stick his finger in the eye of guys that have been doing this for decades.
Don't forget to look at Jeff Bezos and his Blue Origin New Glen Rocket. They have flown their New Shepard vehicle about a dozen times and returned it back to the launch pad every time. Even when they did not expect it to survive the high altitude abort test for their capsule the first stage came flying home like a champ. They have the first launch vehicle in their assembly area to remind every employee of what they have achieved and to inspire them to do more.
As far as Russia goes , we still rely on them. They are the only nation capable of human space flight (other than China, but we recently saw what happened to their space station).
The SLS is the only launch vehicle capable of taking the new Orion Exploration Vehicle to lunar orbit. The Falcon 9 Heavy is close but does not have the mass throwing capability for what NASA plans on doing next. That plan is lunar orbiting station, mars vehicle assembly at that space station, potential Lunar Base that will use said space station as a probable way point and many other exploration missions. It will also be able to throw the largest mass to Lunar or Mars orbit which is the NASA Exploration plan as stated previously.
If the SLS was reusable, as Musks first stages are, that would really advance our space flight capability and seriously lower costs.