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They're also not suitable for small-scale energy production. You have to put in more energy (to accelerate the ions towards the center) than you can get out (as heat).

Seems like a perfect project for SoftBank.

Distributed grids with lots of generation points have their advantages but are really hard to manage. Somehow I doubt this is going to go to the point of having a small fusion reactor in every building, so we have to have some kind of grid. Large-scale generation is something we could plug into the grid we already have, which is a distinct infrastructural advantage - if it turns up before we have solar panels on every roof, anyway.

That's true, but I don't think there's a need to be plugged in the grid to enjoy energy generation. There are already a ton of things embarking their own energy generators (every single vehicle to start with) which aren't plugged in any grid. Batteries are also ubiquitous.

So there is definitely a need for small scale to very small scale energy generators, and dismissing a technology because it's unsuitable for large-scale generation doesn't seem wise to me.

Well, you also need to generate more power then the fusion device consumes.