I can't really argue with you on this point, they all wreck your day for sure.
A new arms race in space does, however, contribute to further development of nuclear weapons. A tit-for-tat sort of situation. I just feel this increases the chances of accidents in orbit, in the atmosphere and on the ground.
But you're right, it doesn't make much of a difference even if a missile defense system shoots down any rocket, hypersonic or conventional, the result is the same. We either have a nuclear strike on our hands or a nuclear weapon detonated in the atmosphere raining down on us.