I'm not sure I'd put it that strongly, but it is quite clear that Shotwell has been a huge factor in SpaceX and the absence of someone like her is part of why Tesla is comparatively less healthy. She deserves a lot more credit.

At one point SpaceX was down to a single make-it-or-break-it launch. Had that failed the company would've folded. Not true anymore, but was at least at one point in the past. Previous HN discussion:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18046049

Lol hyperbole much?

I'm all for credit where credit is due but Shotwell is a completely interchangeable and irrelevant piece of the puzzle here. There are many CEO's, men and women, who could have been in her role. All of the top talent at SpaceX could have been at any other company, but it took Elon steering a ship of motivated individuals, cracking the whip, and putting it all on the line for SpaceX to get where it is.

I really don't understand this recent wave of people who until now loved the guy but after he took a page out of President Trumps say whatever you're thinking book, people hate him.